it went
bounding along, taking others with it in its descent, and crushing the
small bushes in its passage; I saw, or fancied I saw, a large green
snake suddenly dart out of its way, and up into a tree. I kept my eye on
the tree until I got down to it; and then minutely inspected every
branch, as well as I could with my simple vision, but could see nothing.
I then thought I might have been mistaken, but at the same time, could
hardly believe my eyes had been deceived. The tree was only a young
sapling, and could be bent with ease; so to satisfy myself, I determined
to try if my friend was a myth, or a genuine snake, which had really
taken up his quarters in the sheltering boughs above my head. With this
intent I took its stem in my double grasp, and gave it a shake, the
like of which I am certain it never had since it became a tree; it was
enough to shake the very ghost out of it, and had the effect of
displacing my verdant friend, who dropt at my very feet. He did not
exactly know what to make of it, though he did not wait long to
consider, for he soon twisted off, and darted into another tree rather
larger than the first."

"I then looked out for a good-sized-stick, to touch him up with when he
next visited _terra firma_; and for the purpose of discovering his
position, and compelling his immediate capitulation, I besieged the tree
with stones. He was not long in giving me indication of his _locale_,
for I soon distinguished him, coiled round a branch almost at its
extreme end; with his head and about a foot of his body protruding. I
continued to pelt him; and he to dart his head at me, thrusting out his
tongue and hissing fearfully, as much as to say, 'If I only could,
wouldn't I, hat's all.' I twice or thrice shook him in his position,
but could not dislodge him; for he had got himself too firmly coiled
round the bough: then I thought of our fellow's gun. I knew the snake
was too frightened to leave his place for some time; so I discontinued
the discharge of my missiles, took my note of the tree, came down for
the fowling-piece, returned to the scene of battle; and then commenced
another pelting, to ascertain if the reptile had retained his post. Sure
enough it was there, for the head soon made itself visible; but strange
to say from quite a different part of the tree. I imagined from this,
that the beast must have removed in my absence; but I was mistaken, for
I soon detected my friend in his old place, and percei