I persuaded them to make the snake over to me.

Apparently it was already dead.

Thinking it might revive, I put it on some grass in the bow of the boat.

It lay there motionless for a long time, and I picked up my oars and started for home.

I had got half way across the river, when I turned around and saw that the snake was gone.
It had just dropped into the water, and was swimming toward the bank we had left.