ending from bough to bough to reach the earth, and I paused for a
time, asking myself what I had better do.

The result was that I overcame the unwillingness I felt to move, and
crept so softly towards the doctor that I was able to lay my hand upon
his shoulder before he heard me approach.

"Why, Joe!" he exclaimed, starting, "I thought it was an enemy."

"Yes; there he is!" I said with a shudder, and I pointed up among the
branches.

The black who was the doctor's fellow-watcher had seen me approach, and
following with his eyes the direction pointed to by my hand, he too
looked up into the tree, where, glistening in the fire-light, there was
the reptile swinging slowly to and fro with a pendulum-like motion.

In spite of the horror inspired by such a creature, free and within a
few yards of where I was standing, I could not help noticing the beauty
of the scales, which shone in the fire-light as if of burnished bronze.
But I had little time for examination; one moment I was noting the head
and curved neck of the reptile, the next there was a sharp twanging
noise, and I saw the serpent's head jerk upwards, and then what seemed
to be a mass of thick rope fell near the fire; there was a tremendous
lashing and tossing about, and when the doctor and I approached the spot
cautiously with our guns, it was to find that the reptile had glided off
into the forest depths.

"A good shot for a bow and arrow," said the doctor, turning to our black
companion, who smiled complacently, our manner plainly showing him that
we were admiring his skill.

"You are getting a poor night's rest, Joe," said the doctor smiling.
"Now go and lie down again."

"It is of no use," I said fretfully. "I can't sleep, and I only lie
thinking about home and him. I shall stay and watch."

The doctor protested, but finding at last that I was unwilling to lie
down again, he said:

"Well, I am quite different, for I am so tired that I cannot keep awake.
I will go and lie down then, if you promise to come and wake me as soon
as you are drowsy. Mind and keep up a good blaze."

I replied that he might be sure of that.

"Don't fire unnecessarily," he continued. "If any wild animal comes
near, a piece of burning wood will scare it away at once."

"As it did that great cat!" I said.

"Did you see, then?" he said.

"I have not been asleep for a single minute," I replied. "What was it--
a tiger?"

"Tiger! No, my lad," he said, laughing; "I