htfully, as I recalled how difficult I had
once found it to hold a large one that I had caught. "Eels are very
strong."

"Look here, Nat," said my uncle kindly, "I don't think we should run any
risks in following up this serpent, for one good shot would disable it;
but still it may be a little perilous, and it is not just to expect a
boy of your age to face such a danger. You stop back at a distance, and
I will send Ebo into the marsh to drive it out, while I try to get a
shot at it."

"Oh, no, uncle!" I said quickly.

"Come now, my boy," he cried, clapping me on the shoulder. "You are
going because you think I shall consider you cowardly if you stay
behind. I tell you truly, Nat, I shall not."

"I did feel something of that kind, uncle," I said warmly; "but that is
not all. I want to try and be brave and to master all my cowardly
feelings, and this seems such a chance."

He stood looking at me for a few minutes, and then said quietly:

"Very well then, Nat, you shall come. But be careful with your gun, and
do not fire unless you have a clear shot. Don't hurry, and mind that
Ebo is not near. As to the danger," he said, "there is very little.
The worst thing that could happen would be that the serpent might seize
you."

I could not help a shudder.

"Coil round you."

The shudder felt now was the serpent wrapping me round.

"And giving you a severe squeeze," continued my uncle. "It is a hundred
to one against its teeth catching you in the face, and it is doubtful
whether they would penetrate your clothes, and even if they did you
would suffer no worse than from a few thorns, for these constricting
reptiles are not poisonous."

"It don't sound very nice, uncle," I said, feeling as if my face was
showing white through the brown of the sunburns.

"No, Nat, it does not," he said; "but now I have told you the worst I
may as well say something on the other side. Now the chances are that
the brute will try its best to escape, and be shot in the act; and even
supposing that it did seize you, which is no more likely than that it
should seize Ebo or me, we should immediately get hold of it by the neck
and have its head off before it knew where it was."

"Yes, uncle, I know you would," I said with more confidence and a
strange thrill of excitement running through me. "Let me come, please."

"You shall, Nat," he replied; "and now I'll confess to you, my boy, that
I should have felt disappointed if you ha