eded, however, and the boat was made
safe from being observed by the eye of any one going along the beach.
But, to make it still more secure, they poled it in under the branches
of an over-hanging tree not far off--a large Indian fig, or _banyan_,
whose umbrageous top overshadowed the water nearly half-way across the
stream.

To one of its numerous root-stems the craft was made fast by means of
the tiller-ropes; and they were stepping out of it to return to their
camping-place, when a shout from Saloo warned them of some danger ahead.

It was not ahead, but _overhead_; for, as his companions looked up--
following the example of the Malay--they saw what at first appeared to
be one of the stems of the banyan in motion, as if endowed with life!

They were soon convinced of their mistake; for instead of the moving
thing being part of the fig-tree, its supple, cylindrical body and
glittering scales showed it to be a serpent.

It was a python, and one of enormous dimensions, as they could tell by
what they saw of it, knowing that this was only a portion of the whole;
at least ten feet of it were depending from the tree, while, judging by
the taper of its body, and applying the ordinary rule as to serpent
shape, there could not be less than ten or twelve other feet concealed
among the branches above.

As Saloo first caught sight of it, it was descending from the tree, no
doubt having been disturbed by the noise made in mooring the boat, and
tempted to forsake its perch for some purpose unknown. It was coming
down head foremost--not along any of the stems, but in an open space
between them--its tail coiled round a branch above, affording it a
support for this descent, monkey or 'possum-fashion.

Its snout had already touched the ground, and perhaps its whole body
would soon have been elongated upon the earth but for the shout of
Saloo. At this it suddenly jerked up its head, but without taking in
any of its coils above; and with jaws agape and tongue protruding, it
commenced oscillating around as if trying its range, and ready to pounce
upon any creature that came within the radius of that wide circle of
which its forked tongue was describing the circumference.

The warning of the Malay was given soon enough to save Captain Redwood,
but not the ship-carpenter. Murtagh was either too long in hearing, or
too slow in giving heed to it. He was a step or two in advance of the
others, carrying in his arms some implements f