Jungle and Stream: or, The Adventures of Two Boys in Siam. Fenn George Manville

enough, sir; but I didn't mean to let the brute out."

      "No, no, of course not," said Mr. Kenyon anxiously: "but if the serpent was in that basket a short time ago and is gone now, it must either be in one of the rooms here by the verandah or just beneath the house."

      "Ow!" ejaculated Mike, with a look of horror, as he glanced round; and then he shouted as he pointed to an opening in one corner of the verandah, where a great bamboo had been shortened for the purpose of ventilating the woodwork beneath the bungalow, "That's the way he has gone, sir; that's the way he has gone."

      It seemed only too probable, for it was just the kind of place in which a fugitive, gloom-loving reptile would seek for a hiding-place; while as if to prove the truth of Mike's guess there was a sharp, squeaking sound heard somewhere below the house, and one after the other three rats dashed out of the opening, darted across the verandah, and sprang into the garden, disappearing directly amongst the plants.

      "Yes," said Mr. Kenyon; "the reptile seems to have gone under the house."

      "And he will clear away all the rats, Sahib," said Sree, in a tone of voice which seemed to add, "and what could you wish for better than that?"

      "But I think that my son and I would rather have the rats, my man.

      What do you say, Hal?"

      "Yes, father; of course. We can't live here with a horrible thing like that always lying in wait for us. How long did you say it was, Sree?"

      "Two men and a half, Sahib."

      "And that's a man and a half too long, Sree. What's to be done?"

      Sree looked disconsolately at the merchant, and slowly rubbed his blacking-brush-like hair.

      "The Sahib told me to bring everything I could find in the jungle, and this was a lovely snake, all yellow and brown and purple like tortoiseshell. The Sahib would have been so pleased."

      "No doubt, if I could have got it shut up safely in some kind of cage; but you see you have let it go."

      "If the Sahib will pardon me," said the man humbly.

      "Of course; yes, it was not your fault, but Michael's. Well, Michael, how are you going to catch this great snake?"

      "Me catch it, sir?" said Mike mildly.

      "Yes, of course; we can't leave it at liberty here."

      "I thought perhaps you would shoot at it, sir, or Master Harry would have a pop at it with his gun."

      "That's all very well, Mike; but it's of no use to shoot till you can see it," cried Harry.

      "How can we drive it out, Sree?" said Mr. Kenyon. "We must get rid of it somehow."

      Sree shook his head.

      "I'm afraid it will go to sleep now, Sahib," he said.

      "For how long?"

      "Three weeks or a month, Sahib. Until it gets hungry again."

      "Why not get guns and two of us stand near here to see if it comes out of this hole, while the others go from room to room hammering on the floor?"

      "That sounds well," said the merchant.

      "And it would be good to try first if a cat would go down. Snakes do not like cats or the mongoose, and the cat might drive it out. Cats hate snakes."

      "That sounds like a good plan, too, Sree. Suppose we try that first.

      We have a cat, but what about a mongoose? Have you got one?"

      "I had one when I was in Hindooland, Sahib, but perhaps it is dead now."

      "If not, it's of no use to us now," said Mr. Kenyon sarcastically. "Here, Hal, go in and get the two guns hanging in my room. Bring the powder-flasks and pouches too. Be careful, my lad; the guns are loaded."

      "Come along, Phra," said Harry.

      "No, I am going back for my gun."

      "I meant to lend you one of mine," said the merchant quietly. "You two lads ought to be able to shoot that reptile if we succeed in driving it out."

      "Ah!" cried the young Siamese eagerly. "Thank you."

      He looked gratefully at Mr. Kenyon, and then followed Harry into the bungalow.

      "This is a nice job," said the latter. "We shall never drive the brute out. This place was built as if they wanted to make a snug, comfortable home for a boa constrictor. There are double floors, double ceilings, and double walls. There's every convenience for the brute, whether he wants to stay a week or a year."

      "Never mind; it will be good fun hunting him. Where are the guns?"

      "Here, in father's room," said the boy, leading the way into the lightly furnished bed-chamber with its matted floor and walls, bath, and couch well draped with mosquito net.

      One side was turned into quite a little armoury, guns and swords being hung against the wall, while pouches, shot-belts, and powder-flasks had places to themselves.

      "Take care," said Harry, as he took down and handed a gun to his companion, who smiled and nodded.

      "Yes," he said; "but it isn't the first time I've had hold of a gun."

      "Well, I know that, Phra. You needn't turn rusty about it. I only said so because it comes natural to warn any one to be careful."

      "Hist! Listen," said the Prince, holding up his hand.

      Harry had heard the sound at the same moment. It was a strange, rustling, creeping sound, as of horny scales passing over wood in the wall to their right.

      A look of intelligence passed between the boys, and they stood listening for a few moments, which were quite sufficient to satisfy them that the object of their visit within was gliding slowly up between the bamboos of the open wall, probably to reach the palm-thatched roof.

      But it was not to do so without hindrance, for after darting another look at his companion Phra cocked his gun, walked close to the wall, and after listening again and again he placed the muzzle of his piece about six inches from the thin teak matting-covered boarding, and fired.

      The result was immediate. Whether hit or only startled by the shot, the reptile fell with a loud thud and there was the evident sound of writhing and twisting about.

      "Well done, Phra! You've shot him!" cried Harry; "but if he dies there we shall have to take the floor up to get him out."

      "What is it, boys? Have you seen the snake?"

      "No, sir. I heard it in the wall, and fired."

      "Yes, and you have hit it, too," said the merchant. "Listen."

      The boys were quite ready to obey, and all stood attentively trying to analyse the meaning of the movements below the floor.

      It proved to be easy enough, for the violent writhings ceased, and the serpent began to ascend the side of the room again in the hollow wall.

      They went on tip-toe to the spot they had marked down, and as soon as they were still again they could hear the faint crick, crick, crickof the scales on the wood, as the serpent crawled from beneath the floor and extended itself more and more up the side, so that it was plain enough to trace the length upward, till evidently a good six feet had been reached.

      "My turn now," said Harry, cocking his piece. "Shall I fire father?"

      "No; it would only bring it down again, and if it dies beneath the floor or in the wall it will be a great nuisance to get it out. It will mean picking the place to pieces."

      "Let it go on up into the roof, then."

      "Yes," said Mr. Kenyon; "if it gets up there it will be sure to descend to the eaves, and if we keep a pretty good watch we shall see it coming down slowly, and you will both get a good shot at it."

      They stood listening for a few minutes longer, and then the crick, crick in the wall ceased, and it was evident that a long and heavy body was gliding along over the ceiling.

      "Now then, boys, out with you, and I think I'll bring a gun too; but you shall have the honour of shooting the brute if you can. By the way, I