He contemplated her thus for one moment, and then he advanced, about to awaken her; but was struck speechless.

Her face was ashy pale, her eyes open and widely distended; her bosom heaved slowly.

Hazel approached rapidly, and called to her.
Her eyes never moved, not a limb stirred.

She sat glaring forward.

On her lap was coiled a snake--gray, mottled with muddy green.
Hazel looked round and selected a branch of the dead tree, about three feet in length.