. Crusoe's Island; a bird-hunter's story . , with their yellowstems and narrow green leaves. I selected one of the largest clumps and, with mygun in the hollow of my arm, advanced upon it, asthough going forward to storm a fort. For when inthe forests of a strange land I always use caution inwhatever I do, and hold my gun ready for instant use. But, notwithstanding my caution, I did not expectthe surprise in store for me. I noticed that some ofthe bamboo shafts were swaying wildly, as if a stormwas beating on them, though the air was calm and nowind was blowing. This fact excited my suspicions
. Crusoe's Island; a bird-hunter's story . , with their yellowstems and narrow green leaves. I selected one of the largest clumps and, with mygun in the hollow of my arm, advanced upon it, asthough going forward to storm a fort. For when inthe forests of a strange land I always use caution inwhatever I do, and hold my gun ready for instant use. But, notwithstanding my caution, I did not expectthe surprise in store for me. I noticed that some ofthe bamboo shafts were swaying wildly, as if a stormwas beating on them, though the air was calm and nowind was blowing. This fact excited my suspicions,and I scanned the clump narrowly before approach-ing nearer than thirty feet. And it was well I did so, for, as I halted a momentto examine the shafts, out sprang an immense boa con-strictor, to the length of more than half his hideousbody. His tail and the lower half of his shining bodywere enwrapped about two or three of the bamboostems, while the front half and the great head, withits glittering eyes and open mouth, were launched into. yr j^y >>>:>_. ^j&aBMfe rumbo-Jocko, bhe great 82 CRUSOES ISLAND. the air. The head, with cruel white fangs and redmouth, seemed aimed directly at me, and I drewback in alarm, fearing the rest of the serpent wouldfollow. Directly in front of the horrible mouth, which wasopened to its widest capacity, sat a small and inoffen-sive little agouti. It is somewhat like a rabbit in shape,but brown like a muskrat, and about as big as a wood-chnck. The serpents head hung dangling within afoot or so of the trembling animal, which seemed un-able to stir from the spot. It did not notice my nearpresence either, nor did the serpent seem to, they wereso absorbed, the one in the capture of its prey, andthe other as though fascinated by the glittering eyes,which flashed like diamonds. But I could not endure the thought of the littlecreature going down into that cavernous maw, and,quickly sighting my gun at a spot between the boaseyes, I fir
Size: 1277px × 1956px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookidcrusoesi, booksubjectbirds
