Page 502 - Child's own book

which f was; thus all my companions, excepting two, were
drowned. We rowed as fast as we
could, and got out of tbe reach of
these monsters. We were at sea two
days, but at last found a pleasant
island, on which we landed. Hav­
ing1 eaten some fruit, we lay down to
sleep. We were soon awakened by
the hissing of an enormous serpent.
One of my comrades was instantly
mf
fc-
devoured by this terrific creature. I
climbcd up a tree as fast as I could,
and reached the topmost branches;
my remaining companion was following me, but the dreadful
reptile entwined itself round the tree and caught him. The
serpent then descended and glided away. 1 waited until late
the next day before I ventured to descend. Evening again
approached, and 1 gathered together a grcAt quantity of small
wood, brambles, and thorns, and having made them into faggots,
I formed a circle round the tree ; 1 fastened the uppermost to
the branches of the tree. 1 then ascended to the highest
branches. At night the serpent came again, but could not
reach the tree ; and having ineffectually gone round and round
my little fortification until daylight, he then went away. The
next day I was in such a state of desperation, (hat 1 resolved to
cast myself into the sea : but the very inslant in which I was
about to execute my intention, I beheld a ship in full sail at a
considerable distance. W ith the linen of niy turban I made a
sort of Hag as a signal, which was perceived. I was taken on
board the ship, and ihcre related my adventures. The captain
was kind in the extreme, and told me that he had some bales of
goods which had belonged to a merchant who bad been uninteD-