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hair stood up upon my head； for never has there been such another
snake in the whole world。 Those that live in trees and eat bucks in
Zululand； of whose skins men make waistcoats and slippers； are but
babies compared to this one。 He came out； yard after yard of him。 He
wriggled about； he stood upon his tail with his head where the top of
a tree might be； he made himself into a ring； he bit at stones and at
his own stomach； while I hid behind my rock praying to your reverend
father that he might not see me。 Then at last he rushed away down the
hill； faster than any horse could gallop。
〃Now I hoped that he had gone for good and thought of going myself。
Still I feared to do so lest I should meet him somewhere； so I made up
my mind to wait till daylight。 It was as well； Baas； for about half an
hour later he came back again。 Only now he could not jump； he could
only crawl。 Never in my life did I see a snake look so sick； Baas。
Into the cave he went and lay there hissing。 By degrees the hissing
grew very faint； till at length they died away altogether。 I waited
another half…hour； Baas； and then I grew so curious that I thought
that I would go to look in the cave。
〃I lit the little lantern I had with me and； holding it in one hand
and my stick in the other； I crept into the hole。 Before I had crawled
ten paces I saw something white stretched along the ground。 It was the
belly of the great snake； Baas； which lay upon its back quite dead。
〃I know that it was dead； for I lit three wax matches； setting them to
burn upon its tail and it never stirred； as any live snake will do
when it feels fire。 Then I came home； Baas； feeling very proud because
I had outwitted that great…grandfather of all snakes who killed Bena
my friend； and had made the way clear for us to walk through the cave。
〃That is all the story； Baas。 Now I must go to wash those dishes；〃 and
without waiting for any comment off he went； leaving us marvelling at
his wit； resource and courage。
〃What next？〃 I asked presently。
〃Nothing till to…night；〃 answered Ragnall with determination； 〃when I
am going to look at the snake which the noble Hans has killed and
whatever lies beyond the cave； as you will remember Har？t invited us
to do unmolested； if we could。〃
〃Do you think Har？t will keep his word； Ragnall？〃
〃On the whole； yes； and if he doesn't I don't care。 Anything is better
than sitting here in this suspense。〃
〃I agree as to Har？t； because we are too valuable to be killed just
now； if for no other reason； also as to the suspense； which is
unendurable。 Therefore I will walk with you to look at that snake；
Ragnall； and so no doubt will Hans。 The exercise will do my leg good。〃
〃Do you think it wise？〃 he asked doubtfully； 〃in your case； I mean。〃
〃I think it most unwise that we should separate any more。 We had
better stand or fall altogether； further； we do not seem to have any
luck apart。〃
CHAPTER XVII
THE SANCTUARY AND THE OATH
That evening shortly after sundown the three of us started boldly from
our house wearing over our clothes the Kendah dresses which Ragnall
had bought； and carrying nothing save sticks in our hands； some food
and the lantern in our pockets。 On the outskirts of the town we were
met by certain Kendah； one of whom I knew； for I had often ridden by
his side on our march across the desert。
〃Have any of you arms upon you； Lord Macumazana？〃 he asked； looking
curiously at us and our white robes。
〃None；〃 I answered。 〃Search us if you will。〃
〃Your word is sufficient；〃 he replied with the grave courtesy of his
people。 〃If you are unarmed we have orders to let you go where you
wish however you may be dressed。 Yet； Lord；〃 he whispered to me； 〃I
pray you do not enter the cave； since One lives there who strikes and
does not miss； One whose kiss is death。 I pray it for your own sakes；
also for ours who need you。〃
〃We shall not wake him who sleeps in the cave；〃 I answered
enigmatically； as we departed rejoicing； for now we had learned that
the Kendah did not yet know of the death of the serpent。
An hour's walk up the hill； guided by Hans； brought us to the mouth of
the tunnel。 To tell the truth I could have wished it had been longer；
for as we drew near all sorts of doubts assailed me。 What if Hans
really had been drinking and invented this story to account for his
absence？ What if the snake had recovered from a merely temporary
indisposition？ What if it had a wife and family living in that cave；
every one of them thirsting for vengeance？
Well； it was too late to hesitate now； but secretly I hoped that one
of the others would prefer to lead the way。 We reached the place and
listened。 It was silent as a tomb。 Then that brave fellow Hans lit the
lantern and said：
〃Do you stop here； Baases； while I go to look。 If you hear anything
happen to me； you will have time to run away；〃 words that made me feel
somewhat ashamed of myself。
However； knowing that he was quick as a weasel and silent as a cat； we
let him go。 A minute or two later suddenly he reappeared out of the
darkness； for he had turned the metal shield over the bull's…eye of
the lantern； and even in that light I could see that he was grinning。
〃It is all right； Baas；〃 he said。 〃The Father of Serpents has really
gone to that land whither he sent Bena； where no doubt he is now
roasting in the fires of hell； and I don't see any others。 Come and
look at him。〃
So in we went and there； true enough； upon the floor of the cave lay
the huge reptile stone dead and already much swollen。 I don't know how
long it was； for part of its body was twisted into coils； so I will
only say that it was by far the most enormous snake that I have ever
seen。 It is true that I have heard of such reptiles in different parts
of Africa； but hitherto I had always put them down as fabulous
creatures transformed into and worshipped as local gods。 Also this
particular specimen was； I presume； of a new variety； since； according
to Ragnall； it both struck like the cobra or the adder； and crushed
like the boa…constrictor。 It is possible； however； that he was
mistaken on this point； I do not know； since I had no time； or indeed
inclination； to examine its head for the poison fangs； and when next I
passed that way it was gone。
I shall never forget the stench of that cave。 It was horrible； which
is not to be wondered at seeing that probably this creature had dwelt
there for centuries； since these large snakes are said to be as long
lived as tortoises； and； being sacred； of course it had never lacked
for food。 Everywhere lay piles of cast bones； amongst one of which I
noticed fragments of a human skull； perhaps that of poor Savage。 Also
the projecting rocks in the place were covered with great pieces of
snake skin； doubtless rubbed off by the reptile when once a year it
changed its coat。
For a while we gazed at the loathsome and s