entioned was not exaggerated. On the contrary,
additions were constantly made to the number. The surface of the pool
was continually agitated by the darting serpents striking at the
tadpoles and frogs, while on the margin many were writhing in various
fantastic contortions in their sports. Nearly all of them were large,
and some could not have been less than eleven feet long. They were
evidently enjoying the warm rays of the sun, and at times skipped
about with unwonted animation. Now one of the largest would elevate
his black head some four feet from the ground, while the others
wrapped themselves around him, and thus formed the dark and horrid
spectacle of a pyramid of snakes! Then falling prostrate with their
own weight, in less than a twinkling they were dispersed and flying
over the smooth short grass in every direction, their innumerable
scales all the time emitting a low buzzing sound as they ran along.
Every moment others glided into the area from the tall grass, and
those assembled thither rushed towards them in a body to manifest a
welcome.

"Now's the time!" cried Sneak, rushing forward, followed by Joe. When
Joe's eyes fell upon the black mass of serpents, he made a convulsive
grasp at the reins with an involuntary resolution to retreat without
delay from such a frightful scene. But the violence of his grasp
severed the reins from the bit, and the pony sprang forward after the
steed, being no longer subject to his control! There was no retreating
now! Sneak levelled his rod at a cluster just forming in a mass two
feet above the ground, and crushed the hydra at a blow! Joe closed his
eyes, and struck he knew not what--but Sneak knew, for the blow
descended on his head--though with feeble force. In an instant the
horsemen had passed to the opposite side of the area and halted in the
tall grass. Looking back, they beheld a great commotion among the
surviving snakes. Some glided into the pool, and with bodies
submerged, elevated their heads above the surface and darted out their
tongues fiercely. Others raced round the scene of slaughter with their
heads full four feet high, or gathered about the dead and dying, and
lashed the air with their sharp tails, producing sounds like the
cracking of whips. The few copper-heads and rattlesnakes present
coiled themselves up with their heads in the centre in readiness to
strike their poison into whatever object came within their reach.

So sudden had been the onset of th