One day we all set out on a tour to the Farm. Jack and Frank had gone
on first, while my wife and I were as yet close to the Cave. All at
once the boys came back, and Fritz said, "Look at that strange thing on
its way up the path. What can it be?"
I cast my eye on the spot and cried out, "Fly all of you to the Cave!
fly for your lives!" for I saw it was a huge snake, or boa, that would
make a meal of one of us, if we did not get out of its way.
We all ran in doors, and put bars up to the door of the Cave. A large
dove cote had been made on the roof, and to this we got up through a
hole in the rock.
Ernest took aim with his gun, and shot at the snake, so did Fritz and
Jack, but it gave no sign that they had hit it. I then tried my skill,
but it did not seem to feel my shot any more than theirs, though I was
sure I must have struck its head. Just as we took aim at it once more,
we saw it turn round and glide through the reeds in the marsh.
Our fears kept us for three long days in the Cave. The snake gave no
sign that could lead us to think it was still near, but the ducks and
geese had left the spot where their nests were, and this we knew to be
a bad sign. On the fourth day I went to the door, with a view to let
out some of the beasts to graze, for we were short of food for them.
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