That is the invariable defence of the "Spitting Snake" (_Rinkholz_ in Dutch, and _Mbamba Twan_ or child catcher in Zulu).

The pain is agonising.

The eye turns red and appears to run with blood, but after a day or two the poison passes off and sight returns.
The snake is not otherwise poisonous, but apparently can count on success in its shots at men, leopards, or dogs.
_January 23, 1900._ Soon after dawn our own guns along the northern defences from Tunnel Hill to King's Post woke me with an extraordinary din.

They could not have made more noise about another general attack, but there was no rifle fire.

Getting up very unwillingly at 4.30 a.m., I climbed up Junction Hill and looked up the Broad valley, but not a single Boer was in sight.