If it coils round you, cut through it at once.

This is a good place for fighting it, for there is nothing here for it to get its tail round; and a boa cannot squeeze very hard, unless he does that." Stanley, feeling that in a combat of this sort the Burman would be perfectly at home, while he himself knew nothing about it, did as he was told; determining to rush in, should it attack his follower.
"You can advance straight towards him, master.

I will steal round.
He will be watching you, and I may get a cut at him, before he notices me." Illustration: The great snake moved his head higher and higher, hissing angrily.
Stanley moved slowly forward.

As he did so, the great snake moved its head higher and higher, hissing angrily, with its eyes fixed on the torches.

Stanley did not take his gaze from it; but advanced, grasping his knife.