The Scene Was Uncommon And Beautiful; For Thus Opposed They Fought With Their Jaws, Biting Each Other With The Utmost Rage; But Notwithstanding This Appearance Of Mutual Courage And Fury, The Water Snake Still Seemed Desirous Of Retreating Toward The Ditch, Its Natural Element.

This was no sooner perceived by the keen-eyed black one, than twisting its tail twice round a stalk

Of hemp, and seizing its adversary by the throat, not by means of its jaws, but by twisting its own neck twice round that of the water snake, pulled it back from the ditch. To prevent a defeat the latter took hold likewise of a stalk on the bank, and by the acquisition of that point of resistance became a match for its fierce antagonist. Strange was this to behold; two great snakes strongly adhering to the ground mutually fastened together by means of the writhings which lashed them to each other, and stretched at their full length, they pulled but pulled in vain; and in the moments of greatest exertions that part of their bodies which was entwined, seemed extremely small, while the rest appeared inflated, and now and then convulsed with strong undulations, rapidly following each other. Their eyes seemed on fire, and ready to start out of their heads; at one time the conflict seemed decided; the water snake bent itself into two great folds, and by that operation rendered the other more than commonly outstretched; the next minute the new struggles of the black one gained an unexpected superiority, it acquired two great folds likewise, which necessarily extended the body of its adversary in proportion as it had contracted its own.

Enter page number Go  Previous Next
Page 231 of 291
Words from 62828 to 63105 of 79752