He would be more likely to kill the girl than the serpent, and in any event would precipitate the calamity.

Neither was there any way to awaken the girl and drag her from peril, for the slightest movement upon her part would bring the poisoned fangs upon her.
He cast his eyes about for some weapon, but there was not a stick or a stone in sight.

He was a good golf-player; if he had a loaded stick, he could easily take the serpent's head off, he thought; but there was no stick.

There was only one hope, he felt, and that would be to attract the creature to himself; and he hardly dared move lest the fascinated gaze should close upon the victim as she lay there sweetly sleeping, unaware of her new peril.
Suddenly he knew what to do.

Silently he stepped back out of sight, tore off his coat, and then cautiously approached the snake again, holding the coat up before him.