In its death agony it straightened out its folds
and Frank's senseless body dropped from them, seemingly limp and
lifeless.
The boys started to rush in, but Ben held them back with a warning
hand.
"Hold on; it may not be dead yet," he warned.
But a brief inspection proved that the great snake had succumbed to
Ben's fusillade and, this settled, they dragged Frank to a low bank,
where the extent of his injuries could be ascertained.
"No bones broken," pronounced Ben, after a careful examination. It was
not long before the boy opened his eyes and in a short time he
declared he felt as well as ever.
The serpent on being measured with Frank's pocket rule proved to be a
trifle over twenty feet long and of great girth.
"It's an anaconda," said Ben, "there are lots of 'em up along the
Amazon and they are as deadly a snake as there is. I've heard tell
they can crush a horse in their folds."
"I hope there are no more of them on the island," exclaimed Billy.
"We shall have to be careful," rejoined Ben, "there may be other
dangerous creatures here, too.
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