Presently it went out, and he had no more matches.

He looked up to the house there, but was too lazy to fetch them; then I guessed that he was alone, for else he would have called to his companion for fire.

Now he grew sleepier, and I said to myself, 'Otter, Otter, how can you kill this man silently?
You must not shoot, because of the noise; and if you throw a knife or a spear, you may miss, or wound him only.' And my snake spoke in my heart and answered, 'Otter, Otter, dive, seize his feet, and drag him down swiftly and stamp him into the mud, you who are half a fish and can swim as no other man can swim.

Do it at once, Otter, before the light comes and men can see the drawbridge move.' "Well, and so I did it, Baas.

_Wow!_ I trod him deep into the mire, I trampled him as an ox tramples corn upon a threshing-floor.