Johann David Wyss

“ Fritz and Jack sprang into their saddles, and Ernest very gingerly deposited himself in the “cradle,” as Franz called it; they set forth at a most sober pace, the animals, who were perfectly docile, appearing only a little surprised at the new arrangement.
“Oh, it is so pleasant, mother, it is a delightful motion,” cried Ernest, as they passed us; “it swings and rocks really soothingly. Quicker, Fritz! go quicker!” and the trot pleasing him equally well, the pace gradually quickened, till the animals were going along at a rate which shook and jolted the basket about most fearfully. ”

“ Fritz remained by me while I examined the object through my spy-glass.
“It is, as I feared, an enormous serpent!” cried I; “it advances directly this way, and we shall be placed in the greatest possible danger, for it will cross the bridge to a certainty.”
“May we not attack it, father?” exclaimed the brave boy.
“Only with the greatest caution,” returned I; “it is far too formidable, and too tenacious of likfe, for us rashly to attempt its destruction. Thank God we are at Rockburg, where we can keep in safe retreat, while we watch for an opportunity to destroy this frightful enemy. ”

“ I have hopes, however, that when gorged with his prey, we may be able to attack the snake with some chance of success.”
“But the horrible wretch is never going to swallow him all at once, father?” cried Jack. “That will be too shocking!”
“Snakes have no grinders, but only fangs, therefore they cannot chew their food, and must swallow it whole. But although the idea is startling, it is not really more shocking than the rending, tearing and shedding of blood which occurs when lions and tigers seize their prey.” ”

“ And is this kind of snake poisonous?”
“No, dear child,” said I, “only fearfully strong and ferocious. And it has no need to tear the flesh from the bones. It swallows them, skin, hair, and all, and digests everything in its stomach.”
“It seems utterly impossible that the broad ribs, the strong legs, hoofs and all, should go down that throat,” exclaimed Fritz.
BOA CONSTRICTOR.
“Only see,” I replied, “how the monster deals with his victim; closer and more tightly he curls his crashing folds, the bones give way, he is kneading him into a shapeless mass. ”

“ We placed ourselves at the upper openings, after strongly barricading everything below, and, ourselves unseen, awaited with beating hearts the further advance of the foe, which speedily became visible to us.
Its movements appeared to become uncertain, as though puzzled by the trace of human habitation; it turned in different directions, coiling and uncoiling, and frequently rearing its head, but keeping about the middle of the space in front of the cave, when suddenly, as though unable to resist doing so, one after another the boys fired, and even their mother discharged her gun. ”

“ Sometimes, if taken in time, cures are effected, but in most cases the bite of a serpent is followed by speedy death.”
The children were much interested in my account of the snake-charmers of India, how they fearlessly handle the most deadly of the serpent tribe, the Cobra di Capello—or Hooded Cobra—cause them to move in time to musical sounds from a small pipe, twine the reptile about their arms and bare necks, and then, to prove that the poison fangs have not been removed, make them bite a fowl, which soon dies from the effects. ”

“ A very good idea of the structure of the rattle may be formed by slipping a number of thimbles loosely into each other.
“The rattlesnake lies coiled with its head flat, and the tip of its tail elevated; when alarmed or irritated it gives a quivering movement to the tail which causes the joints of the rattle to shake against each other with a peculiar sound not easily described: all animals, even horses newly brought from Europe, tremble at this noise, and try to escape.”
“What is the best thing to be done for the bite of a serpent?” inquired Fritz. ”

“ Fritz espying breakers ahead, we put about at once, and aided by a light breeze, directed our course towards Whale Island.
On landing, I began at once to plant the saplings we had brought. The boys assisted me for awhile, but wearied somewhat of the occupation, and one after another went off in search of shells and coral, leaving their mother and me to finish the work.
Presently Jack came back, shouting loudly,
“Father! Mother! do come and look. There is an enormous skeleton lying here; the skeleton of some fearful great beast—a mammoth, I should think.” ”

“ Remedies are very various, very uncertain, and differ with the species inflicting the bite.
“Suction, ammonia, oil, the use of the knife, application of fresh mould, lunar caustic, leaves of certain plants, all these and more are mentioned. There is a creeping plant, called Aristolochia indica, the leaves of which have, in repeated instances, done wonders for fearful bites. It is found in many parts of the world, but most plentifully in the hotter regions. ”

“ Intending to be out all day, the house was left in good order, and we departed on our expedition, provided, among other things, with spades and mattocks, for I wished to get young cocoa-nut trees and shrubs of different kinds, that, on our way back, we might land on Whale Island, and begin our plantation there. ”

“ The blubber of the whale boiled and stored—A unique machine—Expedition to Prospect Hill—Whale's tongue is voted no delicacy—We land on Whale Island—Jack discovers a strange skeleton—Turtle turning—Towed ashore—The loom completed—Return of the herring shoals—Basket-making—We manufacture a sedan chair—Ernest's wild ride therein—A boa constrictor appears—He retreats to the marsh—Suspense—Poor Grizzle's fate—An awful scene—Death of the monster—An account of snakes—Remedies for poisoned bites—Ernest writes Grizzle's epitaph—The serpent stuffed and placed in the museum. ”

“ It is perfectly true that it lives on snakes, lizards, toads, and frogs, but, Ernest, I cannot give up my pigs; for, in the first place, the secretary bird is an inhabitant of Southern Africa, and is never seen in North America, neither does it ever fly in a flock ”