Its scales glittered as it moved, and it was the shining of these that had caught Truey's eyes, and directed them upon the hideous reptile.
When she first saw it, it was gliding spirally along one of the horizontal branches of the willow, and coming, as it were, _from_ the nests of the birds.

Her eyes, however, had scarce rested upon it, before its long slippery body passed from the branch, and the next moment it was crawling head-foremost down the main trunk of the tree.
Truey had scarce time to start back, before its head was opposite the spot where she had stood.

No doubt, had she kept her place she would have been bitten by the serpent at once; for the reptile, on reaching that point, detached its head from the tree, spread its jaws wide open, projected its forked tongue, and hissed horribly.

It was evidently enraged--partly because it had failed in its plundering intentions, not having been able to reach the nests of the birds,--and partly that the latter had repeatedly struck it with their beaks--no doubt causing it considerable pain.

It was further provoked by the arrival of Truey, in whom it recognised the rescuer of its intended victims.
Whatever were its thoughts at that moment, it was evidently in a rage-- as the motion of its head and the flashing of its eyes testified; and it would have sprung upon any creature that had unfortunately come in its way.
Truey, however, had no intention of getting in its way if she could avoid it.