The White Hand and the Black

>--the crested variety. I've only seen one before, and it was nothing like the size of this. They are rather scarce."

"And a good thing too," said the girl with something of a shudder as they stood contemplating the still moving coils of their late enemy. "Your poor horse has revenged himself. Poor beast! Will his death be a painful one?"

"I don't think so. A stupor, more or less gradual, usually attends death from snake-bite."

As though to bear out its owner's words, the poor animal, which had risen to its feet, now tottered, swayed, and then lay down.

"Well, I shall have to walk. But that's nothing. I'm in hard training."

The girl's eyes opened wide.

"Walk? That you certainly will not, except as far as the house; and that's no great distance. It's nearly dinner time too,"--with a glance upwards at the sun. "And--you have saved my life, you know. I'm a bad hand at making a speech, but--will you take for granted all I'd like to say?"

The other felt a little foo