gested that by
sacrificing some of them they might possibly satisfy the boa. He
shouted out to them a recommendation to that effect. "No, Senor John,
no!" answered Maria from within. "Senora Ellen says she would remain
here for a week, rather than give up one to the horrid monster."

As we stood at a respectful distance, the serpent now and then turned
his head, as if he would dart at us, when Domingos cried out, "Oh, my
young masters! fly! fly! The boiguaeu is coming!"

"We must cut its head off if it does!" exclaimed John, "I have a great
mind to dash in and get hold of my gun."

I entreated him not to attempt so rash an experiment. While we were
watching the serpent, the Indians we had been expecting appeared,
emerging from the thick part of the forest, Duppo and Oria ran towards
them. They seemed to be telling them about the boa. Instead of coming
on to our assistance, however, away they started back into the forest.

"The cowards!" exclaimed John; "they have run off and left us to fight
the battle by ourselves."

"I am not quite so certain of that," I answered.

We waited. Still the boa did not move, but continued watching the door.
Probably through one of the chinks its eye had caught sight of Nimble
or True, who had also fortunately been inside. After waiting till our
patience was nearly exhausted, the Indians re-appeared, carrying between
them a young peccary, while others carried long coils of sipos. At some
little distance from the hut they stopped, when one of them climbed a
tree, to which he secured a loop of sipos, passing through it another
long line. At the end of this a loop was formed. With a stake they
secured the peccary close to the loop, so that to get at it the serpent
must run its head through the noose. The peccary, having its snout tied
up, was unable to squeak. As soon as the arrangement was made, they
retired to a distance, holding the other end of the line. One of them
then unloosed the peccary's muzzle, when the creature instantly began to
grunt. At that instant the serpent turned its head, and, unwinding its
huge body, made its way towards the animal. In another moment almost
the peccary was struck, and the huge serpent began to fold its body
round it. Its own head, however, was meantime caught in the noose, but
this it apparently did not feel, and opening its wide jaws, began to
suck in the animal. As it did so the Indians pulled the noose tighter
and tighter. The