I also permitted several other fangless snakes to bite me until my arms and legs, breast and back, were covered with blood.

Personally, I did not feel much the worse, as the bites were mere punctures, and I knew the selected reptiles to be quite innocuous.

Several "unmarked" snakes, however, manifested an eager desire to join in the fun, and I had some difficulty in escaping their deadly attentions.

I had to wave them aside with a stick.
All this time the blacks above me were yelling with excitement, and I am under the impression that several were lamenting my madness, whilst others were turning angrily upon my rival, and accusing him of having brought about my death.

At a favourable moment I rushed up the ridge of the hollow and stood before the horrified medicine-man, who, in response to my triumphant demand to go and do likewise, returned a feeble and tremulous negative.