n towards
natural history, and now is a good time to take lessons. I want to see
if the snakes will follow a man on horseback as readily as when he is on
foot."

"Are you determined to get choked to death by those dark scamps?"
demanded Mr. Brown, with a stare of amazement.

"By no means; we want to prevent others from suffering such a death, and
therefore feel that we have a mission for killing all that we can with
safety. There's ten or twelve of them left. Lend me your revolver, for
mine has but one charge in it."

Fred held out his hand to receive the weapon, and Mr. Brown, hardly
knowing whether he was joking or not, complied with his request.

The snakes were holding a consultation over the body of the last one
killed, and therefore paid but little attention to Fred, as he urged his
unwilling horse within shooting distance. I remained by the side of Mr.
Brown, and watched his operations.

At the first discharge of his revolver the consultation was broken up,
and after hissing their displeasure, the reptiles commenced slowly
retreating to their den; but every few seconds they would stop, face
him, and then another discharge would start them into full flight.

As they neared the pyramid--what there was left of them--their speed
increased, until it seemed to be a race as to which should get under
cover first. But the most surprising circumstance was the uninjured ones
refusing to allow a maimed one to enter, and every time that it
persisted in its attempt, the others fought him desperately.

That was something that I could not account for; but Mr. Brown said that
the reptiles were only imitating human beings in their treatment of a
comrade, and that as long as a snake was well, and able to fight, the
main body were willing to use him; but after he was wounded and wanted
shelter, there was a conspiracy to kick him out of their comfortable
quarters.

Fred returned with but one barrel of the revolver loaded, and that he
saved because the inspector was in the same condition as ourselves,
having left his powder and ball at Ballarat.

"Now, then, let us return," Mr. Brown said; "you have shed blood enough
for one day, I hope."

The words had hardly passed his lips, when, upon the top of the mountain
that we had descended two hours before, I saw the forms of five or six
men stealing along the trail, as though desirous of gaining the cover of
a number of trees, for the purpose of watching our movements.

I poin