It had been aroused from probably a torpid state by the fumes of the fire, and was now descending from bough to bough to reach the earth, and I paused for a time, asking myself what I had better do.
The result was that I overcame the unwillingness I felt to move, and crept so softly towards the doctor that I was able to lay my hand upon his shoulder before he heard me approach.
"Why, Joe!" he exclaimed, starting, "I thought it was an enemy." "Yes; there he is!" I said with a shudder, and I pointed up among the branches.
The black who was the doctor's fellow-watcher had seen me approach, and following with his eyes the direction pointed to by my hand, he too looked up into the tree, where, glistening in the fire-light, there was the reptile swinging slowly to and fro with a pendulum-like motion.
In spite of the horror inspired by such a creature, free and within a few yards of where I was standing, I could not help noticing the beauty of the scales, which shone in the fire-light as if of burnished bronze.
But I had little time for examination; one moment I was noting the head and curved neck of the reptile, the next there was a sharp twanging noise, and I saw the serpent's head jerk upwards, and then what seemed to be a mass of thick rope fell near the fire; there was a tremendous lashing and tossing about, and when the doctor and I approached the spot cautiously with our guns, it was to find that the reptile had glided off into the forest depths.
"A good shot for a bow and arrow," said the doctor, turning to our black companion, who smiled complacently, our manner plainly showing him that we were admiring his skill.
"You are getting a poor night's rest, Joe," said the doctor smiling.
"Now go and lie down again." "It is of no use," I said fretfully.

"I can't sleep, and I only lie thinking about home and him.

I shall stay and watch." The doctor protested, but finding at last that I was unwilling to lie down again, he said: "Well, I am quite different, for I am so tired that I cannot keep awake.
I will go and lie down then, if you promise to come and wake me as soon as you are drowsy.

Mind and keep up a good blaze." I replied that he might be sure of that.
"Don't fire unnecessarily," he continued.

"If any wild animal comes near, a piece of burning wood will scare it away at once." "As it did that great cat!" I said.
"Did you see, then ?" he said.
"I have not been asleep for a single minute," I replied.