He did the one dexterously without doing the other, and the consequence was that the huge snake, suffering keenly from having its throat pierced through, quickly uncoiled itself from the body of its intended victim, glad to let the latter escape, and only thinking of getting free itself by scuttling off into the thickest of the underwood, where it disappeared evidently writhing in pain.
Too anxious about the condition of their comrade, neither Captain Redwood nor Saloo thought of pursuing it, but stooped down over the released body of the Irishman, who had fallen prostrate to the earth.
On due examination it proved that there was not much harm done beyond a terrible fright; and after some congratulations, he was induced to get once more upon his feet and accompany them to the camp.

But for Saloo and his kris, beyond doubt he would never have returned to it alive.
For the python in the Old World is quite as formidable as the boa in the New.

Perhaps it is even more to be dreaded; for, notwithstanding its great length--twenty-five to thirty feet--it is exceedingly nimble and its muscular strength is immense.

There are numerous authentic stories on record of its having crushed the buffalo and the tiger in its huge constricting folds.

The _python reticulatus_ is probably the largest species..