The latter closed its mouth on the instant; but the horny mandible was impervious to its sharp teeth, and the bird regarded them not.
The kite continued to hold fast with his powerful beak.

He had now gained the advantage, for which he had been all the while contending.
He had got a "fulcrum for his lever," and he was not slow in using it.
Suddenly turning back upward, with the aid of his wing and one of his claws, he held himself fast to the ground, while with his strong neck he drew the head of the serpent close under him until it lay within reach of his other claw.

Then with a quick fierce stroke he planted his talons, so as to encircle the throat of his adversary, clutching and holding it like a vice.
This manoeuvre put a period to the contest.

The red coils were seen to loosen, then fall off; and, although the reptile still writhed, it was only in its death-struggles.

In a few moments its body lay along the grass, powerless and without motion.
The kite after a short rest drew his beak from the jaws of the serpent, raised his head, extended his wings--to assure himself they were free-- and, with a scream of triumph, rose upward, the long carcass of the reptile trailing after him like a train! At this moment another scream reached the ears of the young hunters.