Having Cut My Load,
I Strapped It Together, And Got Everything Ready For Starting.
I felt that I could now call the others without the imputation of
being afraid; and went in search of them.
In a few minutes we
were all collected, and began an attack upon the bush. The big
Frenchman, who was the one that I had called to at first, I found
as little inclined to approach the snake as I had been. The dogs,
too, seemed afraid of the rattle, and kept up a barking at a safe
distance; but the Kanakas showed no fear, and getting long sticks,
went into the bush, and keeping a bright look-out, stood within a
few feet of him. One or two blows struck near him, and a few stones
thrown, started him, and we lost his track, and had the pleasant
consciousness that he might be directly under our feet. By throwing
stones and chips in different directions, we made him spring his
rattle again, and began another attack. This time we drove him
into the clear ground, and saw him gliding off, with head and tail
erect, when a stone, well aimed, knocked him over the bank, down a
declivity of fifteen or twenty feet, and stretched him at his length.
Having made sure of him, by a few more stones, we went down, and one
of the Kanakas cut off his rattle. These rattles vary in number it
is said, according to the age of the snake; though the Indians think
they indicate the number of creatures they have killed.
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