ENCOUNTER WITH A BOA-CONSTRICTOR--MEET A GIANT--FIND MYSELF AMONG THE
RUINS OF AN ANCIENT CITY--SURROUNDED BY SNAKES--TAKE SHELTER IN A RUIN--
HORRIBLE ADVENTURES IN IT--ATTACKED BY BEARS--HOW I PASSED THE NIGHT--
SOLON'S RETURN--SEE A LEOPARD ABOUT TO SPRING ON ME--SOLON WATCHES ME
WHILE I SLEEP.
The object I saw, when perched up on the bough, was sufficiently
terrible in appearance to make my hair stand on end. It was a huge
boa-constrictor, which came gliding along the grass noiselessly towards
the foot of the tree. I was entirely unarmed, for my rifle was on the
ground below me, and I had no time to descend to obtain it. I felt,
too, that my position was very insecure, for I had heard of boas raising
their heads ten feet or more from the ground by the strength of their
tails, and of climbing to the very topmost crests of the loftiest
palm-trees. I thought that by some means or other the vast snake had
scented me out, or seen me, and that he would climb the tree to get at
me. I had heard of birds being fascinated by serpents, and falling
helplessly into their jaws, and I really felt a sensation something akin
to what I suppose they must. I did not exactly feel inclined to jump
down into his mouth, but I thought that very likely I should let go my
hold and fall down. I am not ashamed to confess having had that
feeling, but I tried to conquer it, and it soon wore off, and then I
began to consider how I might best escape the dreadful Python. At first
I thought that I would climb up to the very highest branch, in the hopes
that the boa would not venture to follow me there, for fear of breaking
it with his weight; and then it occurred to me that I might possibly
escape by working my way along to the very end of one of the lower
branches, and, while he was climbing the stem, drop to the ground and
run off. The height was great, though, and the ground so hard that I
had sufficient reason to fear that I might injure myself in my fall.
Besides this, I felt certain that the huge serpent could drop the moment
he saw what I was about, and make chase after me. Terrible indeed were
my sensations. What was passing seemed like a horrid dream. I could
scarcely believe that it was all true. The serpent seemed fully twenty
feet long, with a large head, and a yellow body covered with black
marks--a more hideous-looking creature it was scarcely possible to
conceive. How I longed for my rifle, which stood up uselessly against
the stem of the tree; I only hoped that the serpent would catch hold of
it, and perhaps shoot himself! Perhaps he might think fit to swallow
it, and then there was a great chance of its sending its two bullets
through him. The idea tickled my fancy so much, that, terrible as was
my position, I could not help bursting into a fit of laughter. The
operation seemed to do me good. I laughed away till I could not refrain
from descending to where I could watch the rifle, with the full
expectation of seeing the boa swallow it. I saw my rifle, but I also
saw, what was curious enough, a deer, probably the one I had wounded and
followed, and who had come out of the jungle to take shelter under this
_very tree_. At once I fancied that I had discovered the cause of the
boa's appearance. He, in his wanderings in search of prey, had
undoubtedly come upon the blood-stained tracks of the wounded deer, and
had followed them up, till it had by chance espied the poor animal where
it then was. I was only too thankful that it had not overtaken me, for
it would have undoubtedly seized me, under such circumstances, with as
little ceremony as it would the deer, and have as quickly disposed of
me. In the excitement of the chase I should probably not have heard its
stealthy approach, and I shuddered as I thought of the narrow escape I
had had. Still, I was not quite certain that I was safe. I watched
anxiously for what was going to occur. The poor deer did not attempt to
escape, but, trembling in every limb, looked at the boa as he glided on
stealthily towards it. When the snake had got close to it, it butted at
him with its antlers, as if it had hopes of driving him off. With a
sudden spring, however, which made me start by its rapidity and force,
the boa threw itself on its prey. He first thrust out his long black
tongue and felt it, then he seized it by the leg, and throwing it down
in an instant, had wound the huge folds of his body round it, crushing
every bone in its body. The deer bleated out its complaints, but its
cries grew fainter and fainter, and soon ceased. The boa then, having
unwound himself, taking it by the nose, began to lubricate its body all
over with saliva, and gradually sucked it into his capacious mouth. I
expected to see the horns act like a spritsail-yard, and prevent its
going down, but they went in also, and glided down his elastic and
muscular inside without causing him any inconvenience! I waited till he
had thus effectually put a gag in his mouth, and then, though his head
was scarcely a yard from my rifle, I descended the tree and eagerly
grasped it. So busy was he in gorging the deer, that he did not attempt
to move off, though it seemed to me that his wicked eye was fixed on me
with a meaning, which signified:--"Wait a little, my boy, and then, when
I have got down the deer, I will have a bite at you as a _bonne bouche_
for my supper."
"We'll see about that, Master Boa," said I, stepping back a little, and
levelling my rifle. "I suspect that I shall spoil your supper, as you
have spoiled mine by eating up my deer."
Firing, I sent a ball right through his head, blowing it almost into
fragments. The creature was not killed, but lashed out furiously with
its tail, twisting and turning in the most dreadful manner. I had
always felt a dislike to put any creature into unnecessary pain, besides
being fully aware of its decided wrongfulness. Loading, therefore, as
rapidly as I could, I got as near as was safe, and fired at the upper
part of its tail. The shot was successful, and that instant it ceased
to move. Seizing the boa, which had given me such a fright, by the
tail, I hauled it out to its full length, when, pacing along it, I found
it to be nearly, if not quite the length I had supposed, with a body
thicker than my thigh, and a head as big as a cocoa-nut--the throat and
mouth now distended in a wonderful way by the sausage-like body of the
deer.
A considerable time had been thus spent, and when, having shouldered my
rifle, I began to consider which direction I should take, I felt that I
had very little chance of finding my companions before dark. While up
the tree, I had observed at some short distance what I took to be rocks
or ruins, and I bethought me that I might find among them some cave or
stronghold where I might rest for the night; or, better still, meet with
the habitation of a hermit or priest, some of whom still, I had heard,
occasionally take up their abode near the shattered temples of their
ancient faith. With this hope I walked on in the direction I supposed
the rocks to be. I kept my eye warily about me. I felt that I was
surrounded by enemies. I had already that day had experience enough of
the nature of the creatures which might attack me.
"A battle with a bear and a boa-constrictor in one day is pretty well
enough to satisfy a knight-errant," said I to myself. "I have now only
to meet a rogue elephant, a wild boar, a buffalo, and a leopard, to fill
up the list of my possible opponents. However, there is no use having a
faint heart; I'll push on boldly, and trust that I may be preserved from
all the dangers which may surround me."
I had remarked a distant hill top, and that, of which I occasionally got
a glance, together with the glow in the sky where the sun was sinking,
enabled me to steer a tolerably direct course in the direction I wished
to go. After I had killed the serpent I loaded one of my barrels with
small shot, that I might kill a bird for my supper, the pangs of hunger
warning me that I should not get on at all without eating. I very soon
knocked over a pea-fowl and a parrot. Of the latter I had frequently
eaten pies during our journey. I was thus in no fear of starving, and I
thought that if I could have had Solon with me I should have had no
cause to fear. As it was, I felt very solitary, and not a little
uncomfortable.
The gloom increased. I pushed on through a dense wood. I thought that
I must be near the spot I was seeking. It appeared to be a lighter
a-head, and I fancied that I saw the grey of the rocks against the sky
above them. Eager to get out of the forest, where a bear or a boar
might, without giving me warning, pounce down on me, I pushed on, when
suddenly I saw what appeared to be a monstrous giant standing in the
portal of a cavern. Instinctively I drew back. Naturally my nerves
were in a very excited state after all that had occurred. I expected to
see him, like the giants in fairy stories, rush forward and try to seize
me by the nape of the neck, to clap me into his pockets, or his caldron
or cavern, or any other receptacle for his victims.
"I'll have a shot at him, at all events, if he makes the attempt, and
show him the effects of a good English rifle," said I to myself.
I was standing under the shade of the wood, close by the trunk of a huge
tree. As I peeped out, more clearly to observe the monster, it seemed
as if a bright light was playing round his head, while his eyes, I
fancied, kept moving round and round in search of something. I thought
that perhaps he had heard my approach and was looking for me. I could
almost have shrieked out with horror, but the so doing, it occurred to
me, would betray me. So wonderfully real appeared the monster to my
excited imagination, that I was about to raise my rifle to my shoulder
to be ready to fire should he approach me, when the light on his head
faded away, and I saw that it had been caused by the glow of the setting
sun in the sky--the eyes sunk into their sockets, the features no longer
appeared in the bold relief in which they had before been presented, and
I discerned what I should probably, under other circumstances, have at
first discovered, that what I saw before me was but a colossal statue.
I now boldly advanced, half ashamed, though laughing at my previous
fears. Its size made it appear nearer than it really was, and my
surprise was great indeed, when I at length got close up to it, to find
that it was at least fifty feet in height, and carved apparently out of
the solid rock. I had no difficulty in determining that it must be a
statue of Buddha, and that I was standing amidst the ruins of one of his
temples. Hungry as I was, I could not help examining it before I cooked
my supper, or looked out for a secure spot in which I might pass the
night.
The statue had with infinite labour been carved out of the living rock,
but so much detached from it that only two slender ties remained to
connect it with the vast mass of which it had once formed a part. It
stood on a high platform, with a large bowl before it, in which the
offerings of worshippers, I conclude, were once wont to be deposited.
On either side huge pillars rose to support the roof which once covered
it. Altogether, the mighty figure and the surrounding edifices were
more like what I should have expected to have seen in Egypt or among the
ruins of Nebuchadnezzar's once proud capital, than in that far off and
hitherto but little known region.
On every side, as I wandered on, I found ruins of what I have no doubt
were once temples, and palaces, and public edifices, some still in a
wonderful state of preservation, and others little more than shapeless
masses of debris and fallen brickwork. As I clambered over them I saw
before me some arches in the side of the rock, which I thought probably
were at the entrance of chambers, one of which might serve as my abode
for the night. I hurried on, for it was already getting so dark that I
had good reason to fear I should be unable to find the sort of place of
which I was in search before I was altogether benighted. I had cut a
stick to help me along, or I should not have been able to get over the
rough ground so well. I had gone on some way when a loud hiss close to
me made me start, and I could just discern a big snake wriggling out
from a crevice near which I had passed. I turned aside, when I was
saluted in the same way. I was about to go back, when I saw two snakes
wriggling along across the only place I could have passed. I felt that
I was in for it, as the saying is. I cannot describe my sensations.
They may be far more easily supposed. To go forward seemed the best
course I could pursue. So on I went. I tried not to jump, or shrink,
or cry aloud when every now and then a serpent darted out his long
forked tongue at me and hissed; but it was difficult to command my
nerves. I knew that a large number of the snakes in Ceylon are not
venomous, and all I could do was to try and persuade myself that these
were among the harmless ones. Those that came near me I struck at with
my stick, and quickly sent them to the right-about, for, happily, most
serpents are cowardly creatures, and only seize their prey when they can
do so unawares or at a great advantage. Even the deadly cobra di
capello, one of the most venomous of all, is speedily put to flight, and
only bites when trod on or carelessly handled. The knowledge of this
gave me a courage I should not otherwise have possessed, and so I
continued my course undaunted across the ruins.
On reaching the perpendicular face of the cliff, I found, as I had
supposed, that the arches I had seen formed the entrance to chambers of
some size, and on inspecting one of them, as far as the waning light
would let me, I resolved to take up my abode in it for the night. As,
however, I could not eat the game I had killed raw, I had first to
collect materials for a fire. They were not wanting in the forest,
where I had observed an abundance of fallen branches and leaves. I had
remarked also a welang-tree, from which the Veddahs form their arrows,
and also torches are made from it. I now discovered a much shorter path
across the fallen ruins than the one I had come. I hurried on, for I
had only a few more minutes of daylight to expect. Picking up two or
three fallen branches of the welang tree, and as large a bundle of other
wood as I could carry, I retraced my steps to the excavation in the
rock, where I threw it down, and went back for more. I was not long in
this way in collecting a supply to last me for some hours, I hoped, for
so hot was the atmosphere that I could only have borne to sit by a small
fire. I had picked up some rotten wood to serve as tinder, and, as I
had a match-box in my pocket, I had no difficulty in creating a flame.
Some steps led up to the archway I had selected for my quarters. I
carried my sticks up them, and made up my pile of wood in the mouth of
it. I had an idea that it extended a considerable way into the
interior; but it was now so perfectly dark only a few feet from the
mouth, that I could not by possibility explore it till I had made some
of the torches I intended. I collected a few large stones to sit on,
and made a platform on which to light my fire, that I might the better
roast my birds. I put the tinder with some dry leaves close to it under
the pile, and then having lighted my match, I knelt down and began to
blow away to get it up into a blaze. This, to my great satisfaction, I
had just accomplished, when suddenly I felt a pretty hard slap on the
side of my face, then another, and next my cap was knocked off, and such
a whisking, and whirling, and screeching took place around the fire, and
about my head especially, that I could not help fancying for some time
that a whole legion of imps, or fairies, or hobgoblins of some sort had
taken it into their heads to hold their revels in the cavern, totally
regardless of my presence. My sober senses, however, in a short time
returned, and as the flames blazed up more brightly I saw that my
tormentors were a vast number of bats, on whose long quiet retreat I had
intruded. There seemed to be a great variety of them, and of many
different bright colours--yellow and orange, and red and green. Some
were small, but many were of great size, formidable-looking fellows,
with wings three or four feet from tip to tip. While I kept up a bright
flame, however, they were enabled to see me and to steer clear of my
head. I soon discovered the reason why they kept so long flying round
and round the fire. It was that a number of moths and winged insects
were attracted by the flames, which they followed to gobble up. Their
presence was anything but pleasant, but I soon saw that it was utterly
impossible to avoid them. The odour they caused was very disagreeable,
while the suffocating heat of the rock on which the sun had been shining
with full force for many hours was scarcely sufferable, and I wondered
how the former inhabitants of the city could have existed there.
Just then, I must observe, my own hunger absorbed my mind, and I had to
exert my wits to convert the food I had with me into an eatable state.
I very rapidly plucked the birds, and having cut out four forked sticks,
I stuck them among the stones, and with two others as spits I soon had
my birds roasting. I had some biscuit, and some pepper and salt in my
bag, so that I had now no fear about making a satisfactory meal. In a
country abounding in game like Ceylon, a person with a rifle in his
hand, and a supply of powder and shot or bullets, need never be in want
of an ample supply of food. While my supper was cooking I cut the
sticks of the welang tree into convenient lengths, and, taking a large
stone, beat them away, turning them round and round till all the fibres
were thoroughly separated, and they became fit to serve as torches. I
had plenty to do, for I was at the same time turning my spits to prevent
the birds from being burned. In a short time I had the pea-fowl and
partridge ready to eat, though, I daresay, that they might not quite
have satisfied the fastidious taste of an aldermanic epicure. I was so
hungry that I believe I could have eaten a couple more of birds if I had
had them. I kept a portion, however, to serve me for breakfast the next
morning in case I was unable to kill any more. I might, to be sure,
have added as many bats as I wished to my repast, but I saw none of the
flying squirrel species, the flesh of which is said to be very delicate
and nice.
When I had finished my supper I felt very drowsy, but was afraid of
going to sleep till I had ascertained what other beings might have
occupied the cavern. Lighting one of my torches, I was delighted to
find that it burned brightly and steadily. Holding it in one hand,
while I felt my way with my stick with the other, I advanced cautiously
further into the recess. As I could not carry my rifle also, I had left
that leaning against the arch near the fire. The ground was tolerably
smooth, and covered over with sand, and earth, and dirt. To my
surprise, after going a little distance I discovered that the cavern not
only extended straight forward into the rock, but that long galleries
had been excavated right and left within its face, like those in the
rock of Gibraltar, while others branched off again into the interior.
Altogether I was in a very different sort of place to what I wished for,
or to what I expected to find. Still, it was now too late to look out
for an abode of smaller dimensions, and I determined to make the best of
this one. I did not like to be long absent from my fire lest it should
go out, when I might not be able to find the place and my store of
fire-wood. I therefore turned to go back to it. I thought that I
should have no difficulty in finding my way, but I had not gone many
paces before I had to stop and consider whether I was mistaken or not.
The bats, too, considerably annoyed me. Wherever I went they flew
about, knocking against my torch, and almost putting it out. Still, I
did not think it possible that I could have missed my way. I stopped to
reflect. How often I had turned round I could not tell. The horrid
bats had been so constantly attacking me, or rather my torch, and I had
so frequently whisked about in vain attempts to drive them off with my
stick, that I could not help arriving at the very unpleasant conclusion,
that I was unable in the remotest degree to tell in what direction lay
my fire, and what was of very much greater importance, my rifle. The
torches manufactured by the natives will last two hours, but mine I saw
would burn out in a much shorter time, and then I asked myself, In what
condition should I be? It was impossible not to anticipate something
very dreadful. I had heard of people being eaten up by rats in similar
places, and I could not tell what liberties the bats might take with me
in the dark. I remembered having been told all sorts of terrible things
which they were capable of doing. I did not reflect whether they were
likely to be true or not. Then there were serpents in abundance in the
neighbourhood. Of their existence I had had ocular demonstration. But,
besides them, I could not tell what wild beasts might not have their
habitations in the secret recesses of these long deserted mansions.
These thoughts passed very rapidly through my mind. I had no time to
spare in thinking uselessly about the matter. I must decide at once
what course to take. The glare of my own torch would, I found, prevent
me seeing so easily that caused by the fire, so leaning it against the
wall in a recess, I hurried along what I conceived to be the chief
passage as far as a slight glimmer from the torch would allow me to go
in a direct line. I could see no sign of my fire in that direction. I
hurried back to my torch. It was burning dreadfully low. I repented my
folly in coming away without an additional one, and in leaving my rifle
behind me. I now seized it in my hand and hurried on with it. I came
to a place where two passages branched off at right angles to each
other. One must therefore, I concluded, run right away into the
interior of the rock; the other on my left might possibly lead towards
the arch by which I had entered the labyrinth. I took, therefore, the
one to the left, and once more placing my torch in a niche I walked on,
waving my stick in front of me. I had gone twenty paces or so, though
it seemed five times that distance, when to my great delight I observed
a bright glare reflected on the wall on the right, which, as I supposed,
was opposite the arch I was in search of. So eager was I to ascertain
this that I did not go back for my torch, but pushed on, believing that
I should have light enough when I got near the fire. On I went; in my
eagerness I should have broken my nose by tumbling over bits of stone,
had I not brought myself up with my stick. As it was, I got an ugly
tumble, and hurt my knee not a little. I picked myself up and on I
went. My fall taught me the prudence of caution, and once more I went
forward not quite so rapidly as before. To my great joy I at last saw
my fire still blazing up, and rather more than I had expected too; but a
moment afterwards my joy was turned into dismay, for there, seated
before the fire, and munching the remainder of the birds I had kept for
my breakfast, I saw a huge bear. His back was towards me, and I had
approached so silently over the soft ground that he had not heard me.
His olfactory nerves also were too well occupied with the fragrant smell
of the roast pea-fowl and pigeon to scent me out, which he might
otherwise probably have done. He was evidently enjoying his unexpected
repast, and daintily picking the bones. Had I left my spirit flask, I
suspect that he would have taken a pull at that to wash down his meal.
If I had but had my rifle in my hand I should have had no cause to fear
him, but as it was, I need not say that I did not feel at all happy
about the matter. My weapon was leaning against the wall not two yards
from him, and I could not hope to get at it without being discovered. I
had already had sufficient experience of the savage nature of Ceylon
bears to know the necessity of approaching him with the greatest
caution. I bethought me that my safest plan would be to go back for the
end of my torch, and by keeping that before me dazzle his eyes, so that
I might get hold of my rifle. I instantly hurried back to put the plan
in execution. The torch was still burning, that I could see by the
glare it sent forth across the gallery. In my eagerness I stumbled
twice, and hurt my shins very much. I picked myself up and went on. I
was afraid of my torch burning out, I had already got well within its
light when I thought I heard something moving over the ground behind me.
I turned my head. Horror of horrors! The light from the torch fell on
the shaggy breast and fierce muzzle of a huge bear--the brute I had no
doubt who had made free with my breakfast. He was waddling along with
his paws extended, as if he fully purposed to give me a hug, which would
certainly have squeezed the breath out of my body. I could have
shrieked out, but I did not. Instead of that, I sprang on with frantic
energy towards my torch, which was already almost burned to the very
end. I seized it eagerly, and facing about as the hear with a loud
growl made a spring at me, I dashed it full in his face, and under the
cover of a shower of sparks which were scattered from it I ran as fast
as my legs could carry me towards my fire. The hear was so much
astonished by the unexpected reception of his amiable overtures that he
did not attempt to seize me, and, as may be supposed, I did not stop to
look whether he was about to follow me. My first aim was to get hold of
my rifle. With that in my hand I did not fear him. On I ran. I
happily did not stumble this time. I daresay I was as pale as death--I
am sure I felt so. Gasping for breath, I at length reached the fire. I
hurriedly threw some branches on it to make it blaze up, that I might
see if my enemy was approaching, and how to aim at him, and then I
seized my rifle and stood with it ready to fire. Master Bruin, however,
had been taught to feel a certain amount of respect for me. He did not
make his appearance as I expected, and I began to hope that I should not
be drawn into another battle with him. I had had fighting enough for
that day. After waiting a little time I sat down, for I was sadly
tired; still I thought that for worlds I would not go to sleep. Had I
done so I should have expected to have found myself in the jaws of some
monster or other.
The most important thing was to keep up a good light till sunrise, and
so my first care was to manufacture as many more torches as I had wood
for. I had already found a torch so efficacious a defence, that I was
unwilling to be without one in my hand.
While thus employed, I thought I heard a low growl, and looking up, I
saw moving along the gallery within the aisle to which the glare of my
fire extended, not one bear, but two, looking at me evidently with no
very amiable intentions! I should have had little fear of one, because,
had I missed with one of my barrels, I might have killed with the other;
but two such cunning and fierce fellows as bears were a fearful odds
against me, which I would gladly have avoided. Still, I of course
determined to fight it out as best I could. I threw still more wood on
my fire. I lighted another torch, and stuck it between some stones by
my side, so that I might have a steadier light than the fire afforded,
the flickering flames from which very much confused the objects in the
further recesses of the galleries, and would have prevented me getting a
steady shot at my enemies. Then I knelt down with my rifle presented,
ready to take a steady shot at the bears, should they show signs of
intending to attack me. They looked at me, and I looked at them. They
were licking their paws; whether they did so expecting to find some more
roast partridge and pea-fowl, or with the anticipation of a feast off
me, I could not tell. I had no doubt that one of my visitors was the
bear I had seen, and the other his better half. I was only very glad
that they had not a whole tribe of young bears and bearesses with them.
Under circumstances of such fearful suspense, it is difficult to say how
long a time may have passed--seconds appear minutes, and minutes hours.
The bears growled, and their angry voices sounded through the vaulted
passages like the echoes of distant thunder. I felt inclined to roar
too. Sometimes I thought that a loud shout might frighten them away. I
was considering how loud I could shout. Then I considered that my
wisest course would be to keep the most perfect silence, for roar loud
as I might, I could not roar as loud they could. Once more they uttered
a horrible growl. They were evidently holding a consultation as to what
they should do to me. On they came nearer and nearer, uttering the most
menacing growls. I had, I thought, but one chance--to knock over one of
them with one barrel, and the other with the second. I pulled the
trigger. The first barrel missed fire; the next did the same. In my
agitation when last loading I had forgotten to put on the caps. I had
no time even to remedy my neglect. I was completely at the mercy of the
angry monsters. I had but one chance, it seemed, of my life left.
Igniting another torch, I grasped one in each hand, and whirling it
around my head, I rushed boldly towards the bears, shrieking at the top
of my voice, and as I got up to them, dashing the blazing brands at
their muzzles. The sudden and unexpected onslaught, and the noise I
made, had their due effect. The bears halted, and then to my great joy
turned round and waddled off as fast as they could go.
Thankful for my preservation when I had given up all hopes of life, I
ran back again to my fire, put on caps to my rifle, and sat down pretty
nearly exhausted with my exertions. Though I had driven the bears away
for the moment, I could not help fancying that they would very soon
again return. In spite of this consciousness I felt most terribly
sleepy. I would have given anything to be able to take half-an-hour's
sleep in safety. Now, I knew if I fell asleep that I should fall into
the claws of the bears. I was nodding. I heard another low growl. I
could endure it no longer, but, seizing my rifle in one hand, tucking a
bundle of torches under the same arm, and holding a lighted torch in the
other, I rushed from the ruins into the wood opposite. I did not
reflect that I might have fallen from Scylla into Charybdis, or as some
less elegantly express the idea, have jumped from the frying-pan into
the fire; but, at all events, I had got further off from those terrible
bears.
Having thought of making so many torches was--no pun being intended--a
very bright idea. I was now able to collect ample materials for another
fire. I did not fail to do so, and soon it blazed up brightly, sending
its glare far and wide into the recesses of the wood. I knew from
experience that it would be effectual in keeping elephants and buffaloes
at a distance, and I hoped that other wild animals might be scared off.
What crocodiles might have to say to me, I did not like to reflect, but
I thought that they could scarcely come out of their tanks at night to
pick me up by the side of a blazing fire, unless they might mistake me
for a roasting monkey, and as they prefer underdone meat, might carry me
off before I was completely cooked.
I had lighted my fire near the trunk of a large tree, against which I
leaned my back, part of the root rising above ground serving me as a
seat--indeed, it formed not a bad arm-chair. I thought that I could
manage to sit up in this and keep awake till daylight, employing myself
in throwing sticks on the fire, and by using other devices to prevent
myself from going to sleep. I went on doing this for some time, and
thought that I was doing bravely, then I found that one stick would not
leave my fingers. By great exertions, however, I at last threw it in,
then I got another ready, but that tumbled down at my feet, and a third
slipped from my fingers, and then my arm fell down powerless by my side.
How long I slept I do not know. I dreamed over all the scenes I had
witnessed since I came to the island, confusing and exaggerating them in
the most extraordinary manner. I was galloping away on the backs of
wild elephants, charging huge boars, and tweaking ferocious bears by the
nose, while I had seized a huge boa-constrictor by the tail, and was
going away after him at the rate of some twenty miles an hour. This
sort of work continued with various kaleidoscopic changes during the
remainder of that trying night. Nowell, and Alfred, and Solon came into
the scene. Nowell was riding on a wild buffalo; Alfred had mounted on
the shoulders of a bear; and Solon, with the greatest gravity, was
astraddle on, the back of a monster crocodile, to which Saint George's
green dragon was a mere pigmy, when the crocodile took it into his head
to plunge into the sea, at which Solon remonstrated and barked
vehemently.
I awoke with a start, and looking up, I saw a big leopard which had with
a bound alighted not six feet from me, while my faithful Solon was
standing over me tugging at my clothes and barking furiously at the
leopard. The brute was preparing for another spring. He had
providentially missed me with the first he made. I felt for my rifle,
which I had placed by my side, but I dared not take my eyes off the
creature for a moment, lest he should be upon me. My heart gave a jump
when I found my rifle, and knowing that it was now all ready, brought it
to my shoulder ready to fire. I all the time kept my eyes intently
fixed on the leopard, for I was certain that in so doing lay my best
chance of escape. The creature was in the very act of springing
forward. Not a moment was to be lost. Aiming directly at his head, I
fired. Onward he came with a snarl and a bound, which brought him to
the spot where I had been sitting; but as I fired, I leaped aside behind
the tree, and he fell over among the ashes of the fire, which had long
completely gone out.
It was broad daylight; the sun was shining brightly among the branches
of the trees, and the parrots were chattering, and other birds were
singing their loudest, if not very musical notes. All nature was awake,
and I felt how deeply grateful I ought to be that I was still alive, and
able to enjoy the numberless blessings and objects to delight, and
interest, and gratify the senses, with which the world abounds. I
considered how mercifully I had been preserved during the long hours I
had slept in that utterly helpless state of deep sleep into which I had
fallen, till my faithful dog had been, sent to warn me of the danger
threatening my life. The moment Solon saw the leopard fall dead he
leaped upon me, licked my face and hands, and exhibited every sign of
the most exuberant joy and satisfaction, arising both at having found me
and at having been the means of preserving my life. He then flew at the
body of the leopard, and pulled and tugged at it to assure himself that
the beast was really dead. When he had done this, he took not the
slightest further notice of it.
On examining him, I found that his coat was much torn, and so were his
feet, with thorns and briars, and I had little doubt that he had been
travelling all night to find me. He looked also very tired and
famished, and as I also felt very hungry, I bethought me of trying to
kill some birds, to supply the place of those my friend Mr Bruin had
deprived me of in the night. I therefore reloaded the barrel I had just
fired with small shot, and before many minutes a fine jungle-cock got
up, which I brought to the ground. I loaded again, and killed a couple
of parrots. So, as they would be ample for Solon and me, I instantly
plucked them, and kindling a fire, in ten minutes I had them on spits
roasting away merrily--merrily, at least, as far as Solon and I were
concerned, though, perhaps, the poor birds would have had a different
opinion on the matter. I had, as may be seen, thus become a capital
woodman. I kept, depend on it, a very bright look-out all the time for
my former visitors, the bears, lest a whiff of the roasting birds might
induce them to come back to get a share of the banquet. I had now,
however, a vigilant watcher in Solon, who sat by my side wagging his
tail and observing the process of roasting with the greatest interest.
I wish, poor fellow, that he could have spoken, to tell me what had
become of Nowell and Dango. I examined him to ascertain whether he had
brought me any note from my friend, but if he had had one tied round his
neck, it had been torn off by the bushes; but I thought it much more
probable that he had left them as soon as he had missed me, and set off
without letting them know, to try and find me out.
After he and I had breakfasted, I felt very weary and sleepy; and so,
feeling certain that he would keep a more vigilant watch over me than I
could myself when awake, I lay down with perfect confidence on the
ground, in the shade of a bo-tree, and slept as soundly as I ever did in
my life. No dream disturbed me--not a thought passed through my mind.
The last thing I saw, before I closed my eyes, was Solon sitting up with
his head stretched over me, his ears outspread, his eyes looking sharply
round, and his nose pointed out, ready to catch the slightest scent of a
dangerous creature. What a perfect picture, I have since thought, did
he present of true fidelity!