Of course I followed, but when I reached its entrance the star of light thrown forward by the bull's-eye lantern showed me that he was already about eight yards down the tunnel.
Then I heard a terrible hissing noise and Savage exclaiming: 'Oh! my God!' twice over.

As he spoke the lantern fell from his hand, but did not go out, because, as you know, it is made to burn in any position.
I leapt forward and picked it from the ground, and while I was doing so became aware that Savage was running still farther into the depths of the cave.

I lifted the lantern above my head and looked.
"This was what I saw: About ten paces from me was Savage with his arms outstretched and dancing--yes, dancing--first to the right and then to the left, with a kind of horrible grace and to the tune of a hideous hissing music.

I held the lantern higher and perceived that beyond him, lifted eight or nine feet into the air, nearly to the roof of the tunnel in fact, was the head of the hugest snake of which I have ever heard.

It was as broad as the bottom of a wheelbarrow--were it cut off I think it would fill a large wheelbarrow--while the neck upon which it was supported was quite as thick as my middle, and the undulating body behind it, which stretched far away into the darkness, was the size of an eighteen-gallon cask and glittered green and grey, lined and splashed with silver and with gold.
"It hissed and swayed its great head to the right, holding Savage with cold eyes that yet seemed to be on fire, whereon he danced to the right.
It hissed again and swayed its head to the left, whereon he danced to the left.