rible as was
my position, I could not help bursting into a fit of laughter. The
operation seemed to do me good. I laughed away till I could not refrain
from descending to where I could watch the rifle, with the full
expectation of seeing the boa swallow it. I saw my rifle, but I also
saw, what was curious enough, a deer, probably the one I had wounded and
followed, and who had come out of the jungle to take shelter under this
_very tree_. At once I fancied that I had discovered the cause of the
boa's appearance. He, in his wanderings in search of prey, had
undoubtedly come upon the blood-stained tracks of the wounded deer, and
had followed them up, till it had by chance espied the poor animal where
it then was. I was only too thankful that it had not overtaken me, for
it would have undoubtedly seized me, under such circumstances, with as
little ceremony as it would the deer, and have as quickly disposed of
me. In the excitement of the chase I should probably not have heard its
stealthy approach, and I shuddered as I thought of the narrow escape I
had had. Still, I was not quite certain that I was safe. I watched
anxiously for what was going to occur. The poor deer did not attempt to
escape, but, trembling in every limb, looked at the boa as he glided on
stealthily towards it. When the snake had got close to it, it butted at
him with its antlers, as if it had hopes of driving him off. With a
sudden spring, however, which made me start by its rapidity and force,
the boa threw itself on its prey. He first thrust out his long black
tongue and felt it, then he seized it by the leg, and throwing it down
in an instant, had wound the huge folds of his body round it, crushing
every bone in its body. The deer bleated out its complaints, but its
cries grew fainter and fainter, and soon ceased. The boa then, having
unwound himself, taking it by the nose, began to lubricate its body all
over with saliva, and gradually sucked it into his capacious mouth. I
expected to see the horns act like a spritsail-yard, and prevent its
going down, but they went in also, and glided down his elastic and
muscular inside without causing him any inconvenience! I waited till he
had thus effectually put a gag in his mouth, and then, though his head
was scarcely a yard from my rifle, I descended the tree and eagerly
grasped it. So busy was he in gorging the deer, that he did not attempt
to move off, though it seemed to me that his wicked