It may be thought singular that I had not given the alarm to the household at Mr Forster's plantation ; but I had re solved that I would not, if I could do my errand unquestioned, create a turmoil which might bring about the very evil against which I waa striving. Oswald's mother and sisters loved him, but their nerves were not of the strongest, and their outcries, had they heard the news, would have had the effect of summoning a score of servants and coolies, and to seal Oswald's fate by sending a noisy posse of volunteers to the place where he lay at the snake's mercy. As if oq winged feet, yet carrying the precious draught of milk with jealous care, I hurried back to the spot where, at the foot of the huge talipot tree, lay Oswald, yet asleep. The snake, however, as though uneasy, was beginning to stir. Its monstrou« head wagged slowly from side to side amoDg the white wild flowers, and its slender tongue protruded from between its grim jaws. But I was in time, and, as I poured the milk, or rather a portion of it, on the ground, so that a long trail should lead to the spot where I set down the brass drinking cup, with what of its contents remained, I was careful to avoid, by any abrupt gesture, incensing the tic palunga. Then came a minute or two of agonised expectancy, and .then, to my great joy, I saw the reptile slowly uncoil himself, evi dontly making for the milk. First, one wreath and then another of the snake'B limber length was untwined, and the great serpent, brushing through the forest grass and flowerets, stooped its broad head to drink. As I saw Oswald thus freed, and the unsuspected foe draw farther and farther away from the place where he reposed, I felt the strength that had hitherto supported me suddenly be come weakness. My nerves being no longer braced by the sense of Oswald's mortal peril, the instinctive terror and disgut which 1 had from childhood felt for the serpent tribe overpowered me, and I grew gidny and weak, and could scarcely stand and scarcely see.
