e Jack had his
imaginary bite. They were principally the puff-adder, which would come
out from among the stones to get within reach of the fire, where it
would lie and bask, quite regardless of the presence of the people; and
several of these creatures had to pay dearly for their temerity.

The day after they had settled here they found another unpleasant
neighbour, in the shape of a boa, this being the third of these large
serpents they had met with in their journey.

The General saw the creature up in the mountain amongst the stones,
about a quarter of a mile from the camp, and came back to announce his
discovery.

There was magic to the boys in the word snake, and catching up their
guns, they followed the Zulu up the rocks--quite a stiff climb in the
hot sunshine--and there upon a little sandy plain lay the monster,
knotted together, apparently asleep.

They had been afraid to bring the dogs lest one of them should be
crushed by the great boa, and now, as it lay so passive, they had to
attempt some plan for rousing it so as to make it raise its head for a
shot; and on being warned of what was wanted, the General offered to go
up and rouse the creature with the handle of his assegai.

But this Mr Rogers would not permit, bidding the Zulu throw stones at
the reptile.

This the General did, the second he pitched being so well-aimed that it
struck the serpent right amongst its thickest folds, when, in an
instant, the creature was all in motion, with its scales glittering in
the sun, and its head raised in angry menace, though it did not seem to
see who had disturbed it, and ended by striking fiercely at the
offending stone.

It would have been easy enough to have shot the creature now, but every
one was so much interested in watching its actions that they forebore,
though their guns were presented, ready to fire at the slightest
indication of danger.

The serpent writhed, and turned itself over and over, and seemed too
angry to settle itself down again to rest: but at the end of a few
minutes the warmth of the sun, and the sand upon which it was gliding
about, were so pleasant, that it coiled itself up once more, laying its
head over two or three of the coils in the centre, and then appeared to
be settling down once more to sleep.

Another stone from the General threw it into violent agitation once
more; the body writhed about upon the sand, the tail lashed it, the
broad head rose up with a loud angry hiss,