WATCHES ME
WHILE I SLEEP.

The object I saw, when perched up on the bough, was sufficiently
terrible in appearance to make my hair stand on end. It was a huge
boa-constrictor, which came gliding along the grass noiselessly towards
the foot of the tree. I was entirely unarmed, for my rifle was on the
ground below me, and I had no time to descend to obtain it. I felt,
too, that my position was very insecure, for I had heard of boas raising
their heads ten feet or more from the ground by the strength of their
tails, and of climbing to the very topmost crests of the loftiest
palm-trees. I thought that by some means or other the vast snake had
scented me out, or seen me, and that he would climb the tree to get at
me. I had heard of birds being fascinated by serpents, and falling
helplessly into their jaws, and I really felt a sensation something akin
to what I suppose they must. I did not exactly feel inclined to jump
down into his mouth, but I thought that very likely I should let go my
hold and fall down. I am not ashamed to confess having had that
feeling, but I tried to conquer it, and it soon wore off, and then I
began to consider how I might best escape the dreadful Python. At first
I thought that I would climb up to the very highest branch, in the hopes
that the boa would not venture to follow me there, for fear of breaking
it with his weight; and then it occurred to me that I might possibly
escape by working my way along to the very end of one of the lower
branches, and, while he was climbing the stem, drop to the ground and
run off. The height was great, though, and the ground so hard that I
had sufficient reason to fear that I might injure myself in my fall.
Besides this, I felt certain that the huge serpent could drop the moment
he saw what I was about, and make chase after me. Terrible indeed were
my sensations. What was passing seemed like a horrid dream. I could
scarcely believe that it was all true. The serpent seemed fully twenty
feet long, with a large head, and a yellow body covered with black
marks--a more hideous-looking creature it was scarcely possible to
conceive. How I longed for my rifle, which stood up uselessly against
the stem of the tree; I only hoped that the serpent would catch hold of
it, and perhaps shoot himself! Perhaps he might think fit to swallow
it, and then there was a great chance of its sending its two bullets
through him. The idea tickled my fancy so much, that, ter