It was asleep in a warm sunny corner of the lock gate, and when the gate was shut it fell off into the water.
Alice and Dora screamed hideously.

So did Daisy, but her screams were thinner.
The snake swam round and round all the time our boat was in the lock.
It swam with four inches of itself--the head end--reared up out of the water, exactly like Kaa in the Jungle Book--so we know Kipling is a true author and no rotter.

We were careful to keep our hands well inside the boat.

A snake's eyes strike terror into the boldest breast.
When the lock was full father killed the viper with a boat-hook.

I was sorry for it myself.