waited ...
gripping the shelf, and thinking of the coming daughter, and wondering whether she must die by snake-bite or fire--unborn--with her unhappy mother.

For the fallen lamp had burst, the oil had caught fire, and the fire gave no light by which she could see what was beneath her foot--head, body, or tail of the lashing, squirming snake--as the flame flickered, rose and fell, burnt blue, swayed, roared in the draught of the door--did anything but give a light by which she could see as she bent over awkwardly, still gripping the shelf, one foot on the stool, further prevented from seeing by her loose draperies.
Soon she realized that in any case she could not see her foot without changing her position--a thing she would _not_ do while there was hope--and strength to hold on.

For hope there was, inasmuch as _she had not yet felt the stroke of the reptile's fangs_.
Again she reasoned calmly, though strength was ebbing fast; she must remain as she was till death by fire or suffocation was the alternative to flight--flight which was synonymous with death, for, as her other foot came down and she stepped off the snake, in that instant it would strike--if it had not struck already.
Meantime--to call steadily and coolly again.
This time she called to the _hamal_, a Bhil, engaged out of compassion, and likely, as a son of the jungle's sons, to be of more courage than the stall-fed butler in presence of dangerous beast or reptile.
"_Hamal_: I want you," she called coolly.
"Mem-Sahib ?" came the reply from the lamp-room near by, and the man approached.
"That stupid butler has dropped a lamp and run away.

Bring a pail of water quickly and call to the _malli_[3] to bring a pail of earth as you get it.

Hasten!--and there is baksheesh," said Mrs.de Warrenne quietly in the vernacular.
Tap and pail were by the door of the back verandah.