“Come back, you—.”  The rest of the sentence was inarticulate, but I think it sounded like “fools.”

We glanced at the inspector, and found that he was in full retreat with the horses, evidently being disposed to be on the safe side.

“Let us give them one more shot, and be off,” said Fred.

He was about to carry his words into effect, when a thought suddenly struck me, and I lowered my revolver.

“Fred,” I said, “did you put your powder flask in your pocket?”

“No, for I supposed that you did,” he replied.

“Then let me advise you to reserve your fire, for we have but one shot each, and it is a long way to camp.”

I had hardly delivered the caution, when we found that it was full time to beat a retreat.  The snakes, still showing signs of anger, had crept to within ten yards of us, and I thought, from a hasty observation, that they were preparing to separate, and make a spring.

“Now, then, for a run!” cried Fred; and we turned our backs upon our enemies, and started towards the horses as fast as our legs could carry us.

I glanced over my shoulder to see what action the snakes were taking, and to my horror I found that they had separated, and were pursuing us with inconceivable rapidity.  Their huge heads were raised about eighteen inches from the ground, and their wide mouths were expanded as though grinning at our flight.

“Run faster,” yelled the inspector, who was watching the novel race, seated on his horse.

We tried to obey, but found that we were putting our best energies to the work, and therefore could not increase our pace.  It seemed to me that I was shod with lead, my feet felt so heavy.

“Run, run, run!” yelled the inspector, endeavoring to urge the horses towards us; but the brutes resisted with all their might, and he was obliged to relinquish the attempt.

I again looked over my shoulder, and saw that we did not increase the distance between us and our loathsome foes, but I felt a little hope at the thought of their not gaining on us.  Ten rods more, and we should he within range of the inspector’s revolver, and perhaps he could check the snakes’ pursuit.

Even while these thoughts passed through my brain, I saw one of the most active of our pursuers suddenly stop, raise one half of his long body from the ground, in an upright direction, and then spring forward, at least twenty feet, and far in advance of his competitors.  Two more such springs, and we would be enfolded in his embrace.  Again he raised his black, shining form, and was about to repeat the attempt, when we heard the sharp crack of Mr. Brown’s revolver.

To my joy, I saw that the inspector’s aim was true, for the reptile, just as he was about to repeat his spring, was struck by the ball, and rolled over and over, lashing the ground with his tail, and causing his companions to suddenly stop, as though desirous of seeing what the matter was.