I lost no time--for in love or war shilly-shallying is unknown among the blacks--but boldly leaped down into the hollow armed only with a reed whistle, which I had made for myself solely with the view of enticing the snakes from their holes.

I cast a triumphant glance at my impassive rival, who, up to this moment, had not the faintest idea what the proposed ordeal was.

I commenced to play as lively a tune as the limited number of notes in the whistle would allow, and before I had been playing many minutes the snakes came gliding out, swinging their heads backwards and forwards and from side to side as though they were under a spell.

Selecting a huge black snake, who bore unobtrusively my safety mark, I pounced down upon him and presented my bare arm.

After teasing the reptile two or three times I allowed him to strike his teeth deep into my flesh, and immediately the blood began to run.