“Excuse me, but if you will light a match and a few leaves, and then insert your hand up one of my trousers legs, I think that we can conquer the reptile.”

“The position which you assign me is none of the most pleasant, my friend,” Mr. Brown said, “for I don’t know what part of the reptile is in your hand, and what kind of an animal you are struggling with.  I will comply with your request, though, if I lose my life in accomplishing it.”

He hastily collected a few leaves, struck a match and set fire to them.  The flames gave sufficient light for the purpose, and in less than a minute’s time Mr. Brown was ready to work.

“Steady with your hand,” he said, as he passed his arm up my trousers leg in search of the squirming reptile.  “In less than ten seconds we shall be either laughing or crying.”

The snake, as though aware that its time was near, made a desperate attempt to escape, but I held fast, although I confess that the effort cost me more mental resolution than I ever exercised before, for the position in which I was situated was no envious one.  I felt the cold perspiration streaming down my face in large drops, and my heart beat as though it was attempting to force its way through my side, and go into business on its own account, independent of the body.

“For God’s sake, be quick,” I cried, fearing that I should faint before my friend accomplished his object.

“Patience, patience—­don’t get into a rage, for it will not help us.  If the snake is of the poisonous species, a few seconds will not make much difference; and if the reptile is harmless, were it not for the feeling of the thing, it might as well lodge in your trousers as in any other part of our camp equipage.  Don’t jerk so—­the thing has nerves as well as yourself.”

Much more did Mr. Brown say, but I was in no humor to talk, or even to listen; and yet I can now frankly confess that if he had not made light of my misfortune I should have suffered ten times the amount of mental agony that I did.  His jesting style of treating the affair was alone sufficient to make me keep up my spirits, and imagine the matter as one of less consequence than it really was.

“Now, then, are you ready?” cried Mr. Brown, “and I felt the snake suddenly cease its gyrations and strain to effect its escape, but I held on with a hand of iron.

“When I say three, do you let go suddenly,” my friend exclaimed.

I was only too willing.

“One.”

“Two.”

It seemed an age between the monosyllables, yet I held on patiently.

“Three.”

I released my hold, and Mr. Brown, with a quick movement of his hand, dashed the reptile to the ground, and stamped upon it with his heavy boots.

“Now let us see what species it is,” he said, kicking it towards the fire.  A moment’s examination, and a hearty laugh set my fears at rest.

“You might have slept with a dozen beneath you, and no harm would have happened.  It is nothing but a green snake, and a small one at that.”