The hunters had found it upon the plain, wounded by some animal,--perhaps a very large snake,--and had brought it home as a curiosity.

In time it quite recovered from its wounds; but the kindness it had received, during the period when it was an invalid, was not thrown away upon it.
When it recovered the use of its wings, it refused to leave the society of its protectors, but remained habitually in the camp--although it made frequent excursions into the surrounding plains in search of its favourite food.

It always, however, returned at night, and roosted among the branches of the great nwana-tree.

Of course it was Jan's pet, and Jan was very good to it; but it now repaid all his kindness in saving him from the fangs of the deadly cobra.
The children, having recovered from their alarm, stood watching the singular conflict between serpent and serpent-eater.
On first seizing the reptile the bird had caught it by the neck in its beak.

It might not have accomplished this so readily, had not the attention of the snake been occupied by the children, thus throwing it off its guard.
Having succeeded in seizing the reptile, the bird rose nearly in a vertical direction to a height of many yards, and then opening his beak permitted the serpent to fall to the ground.