f lovely blossoms off the bush on to the clear
space where they stood.

"Oh, if I could only show that in London, just as it is!" cried Brazier.
"Why, that bunch alone almost repays me for my journey: it is so
beautiful and new."

"Give it a shake, Mr Joe, sir!" said Shaddy.

"Ah, yes, let's make sure."

"Can't be anything else in it," said Rob boisterously, in his desire to
hide the fact that he had been terribly frightened.

"Never you mind whether there is or whether there ain't, sir," said
Shaddy; "I want that there bunch shook."

Joe gave a few jerks, and at the last something fell with a light _plip_
in amongst the leaves at their feet.

"Ah!" ejaculated their guide; and, bending down, he pressed the leaves
aside with the point of his knife till he saw the object which had
fallen, and carefully took it up with his left finger and thumb to hold
out before the others the head and about an inch or so of the little
snake--one much thinner, but otherwise about the size of an English
adder.

"Horrid-looking little thing," said Rob carelessly; "but I don't think
it's poisonous."

Shaddy gave a grunt, and holding the neck tightly, he thrust the point
of his knife in between the reptile's jaws, opened them, and then
shifting his fingers to the angle, he held the snake's head upside down,
and with the point of the blade raised from where they lay back on the
roof of the mouth, close to the nose, two tiny glass-like teeth, the
creature's fangs, which could be held back or erected at its pleasure.

"Not much doubt about them, sir," said Shaddy.

"Not the slightest," replied Brazier, frowning. "We've both had narrow
escapes, Rob."

"You have, sir, and all for want of knowing better, if you'll excuse me.
What you've got to do is to look upon everything as dangerous till
you've found out as it's safe. And that you must do, please, for I
can't help you here. If it's a clawing from a lion or tiger, or a dig
from a deer's horn, or a bite of 'gator, or a broken limb, or spear
wound, or even a bullet-hole, I'm all there. I'll undertake to pull you
through a bit of fever too, or any or'nary complaint, and all without
pretending to be a doctor. But as to fighting against snake poison, I'm
just like a baby. I couldn't help you a bit, so don't get running your
hands among the things anywhere. They'll get out of your way fast
enough if you give them a chance; so just help me by minding that."

One of the boatmen ca