Lost in the Wilds of Brazil by James H. Foster

Author:James H. Foster
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781620135693
Publisher: Duke Classics

Chapter XVI - A Thrilling Encounter

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Protruding from a tree bough not ten feet away was a long, sinister snake, its evil eyes glistening in what little sunlight penetrated the dense jungle. Whether it was poisonous Joe did not know, but he knew that even though it were not it would be dangerous to the extreme.

As cautiously as possible he nudged his companions, and then the naturalists held their rifles tighter. Here, only a short distance away, was a jararaca, one of the most poisonous of Brazilian reptiles—a snake that often was known to take the aggressive.

For a moment there was silence—an ominous silence that ended in a blood-curdling hiss.

Mr. Holton and Mr. Lewis raised their rifles and took long and careful aim. Bob followed suit, although he was not sure that his aim would be true.

Then, just as the snake prepared to strike, the men fired simultaneously, and Bob pulled the trigger a second later.

In such a crisis it was necessary that their bullets take effect, and they did.

The reptile's head was shattered into a horrible pulp that was all but sickening, and the great body lashed about in pain. For several minutes the movements continued; then, as life faded out, the snake became less active, finally stretching out into one last mass.

"Whew!" breathed Bob, relaxing for the first time. "That was some encounter."

Mr. Holton nodded in affirmation.

"If we had been stung by those terrible fangs it would have been the last of us," he said, casting a resentful look in that direction.

"The venom is extremely powerful," remarked Mr. Lewis, wiping the perspiration from his brow. "It is yellow in color, and takes effect almost immediately. The nervous system becomes paralyzed in a very short time."

"A pleasant way to die—I don't think," muttered Joe, shrugging his shoulders.

They made a wide circle about the reptile's body and started on the return journey.

"I'd like to have it as a specimen," remarked Mr. Lewis, referring to the jararaca. "But in its shattered condition it would not be worth the taking."

The hunters rested awhile under the shade of a large hardwood tree, whose branches extended out over a great distance. Then Mr. Holton took up his belongings, and the others did the same.

Gradually the jungle became less dense, and at last they came to the village, where they were given a hearty greeting by the Indians, who were glad to see the hunters back in the village. They found Professor Bigelow in the hut, his hands flying over the keys of the typewriter.

At first he did not notice them, thinking they were Indians, but finally he lifted his gaze.

"What kind of luck did you have?" he inquired absently.

The others hesitated a moment at the professor's almost unconscious question. It was evident that the anthropologist was becoming deeply absorbed in this work of observing the daily life of the little-known Indians. Then, with a wink at the others, Mr. Holton decided on a preposterous answer to see how the professor would take it.

"We brought down two tigers and an elephant," he said, in as sober tones as he could summon.

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