O, brother! back! The snake! the snake!"

The words were uttered in vain. Jan heard them, but did not comprehend
their meaning. He heard the word "snake." He was expecting as much. It
had attacked Trueey; and although he did not see it, it was no doubt
wound about her body. He hurried on.

Already he was within six paces of the dread reptile, that had erected
its long spread neck to receive him. Another moment, and its envenomed
fangs would pierce deep into his flesh.

With a despairing scream Trueey rushed forward. She hoped to attract the
monster upon herself. She would risk her own life to save that of her
brother!

She had got within six feet of the threatening reptile. Jan was about
the same distance from it on the opposite side. They were equally in
peril; and one or the other--perhaps both--would have fallen a sacrifice
to the deadly cobra; but at that moment their saviour was nigh. A dark
shadow passed under their eyes--in their ears was a rushing sound like
the "whish" of a falling body--and at the same instant a large bird
darted down between them!

It did not stay to alight. For a moment its strong broad wings agitated
the air in their faces; but the next moment the bird made a sudden
effort, and rose vertically upwards.

Trueey's eyes fell upon the ground. The cobra was no longer there.

With an exclamation of joy she sprang forward, and, throwing her arms
around Jan, cried out,--

"We are saved, brother!--we are saved!"

Jan was somewhat bewildered. As yet he had seen no snake. He had seen
the bird dart down between them; but so adroitly had it seized the cobra
and carried it off, that Jan, looking only at Trueey, had not perceived
the serpent in its beak. He was bewildered and terrified, for he still
fancied that Trueey was in danger.

When he heard her exclaim, "We are saved!" he was bewildered all the
more.

"But the snake!" he cried out. "Where is the snake?"

As he put these questions, he kept examining Trueey from head to foot, as
if expecting to see a reptile twined around some part of her body.

"The snake, Jan! Did you not see it? It was just there, at our feet; but
now--see! yonder it is. The secretary has got it. See! They are
fighting! Good bird! I hope it will punish the villain for trying to rob
my pretty weavers. That's it, good bird! Give it to him! See, Jan! What
a fight!"

"Oh, ah!" said Jan, now comprehending the situation. "Oh, ah! Sure
enough, yonder is a snake, and a