A LIFE FOR A LIFE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13390, 19 January 1907, Page 2 (Supplement)

A LIFE FOR A LIFE.

| THK GRATITUDE OF AN IGUANA LIZARD. Is the year 1905 I was working on the mines at Tarcoola, which is 600 miles northwest of Adelaide. One day in February I was reading in my shed when I suddenly became aware of the presence of a visitor in the shape of an iguana lizard some two feet nine inches in length. The poor animal was apparently sufferI ing intense agony and pain. A piece of j mulga stick had pierced downward through ; the animal's leg and literally skewered its I thigh pari of the limb to the ankle, near j its sharp claws. I poured out a saucerful i of water, which it greedily drank, and drew out the splinter of wood. 1 then bathed the wounded leg with water, into which I put some Condy's fluid. After the operation the patient stretched 1 itself by the side of an old box and was j soon fast asleep, apparently from cxlunisi J ion. For five or six days I continued to bathe its wound night and morning, and at length Billy (for so I had named him) could run without a. limp. Being of an independent turn of mind he used to go off every morning and hunt for his living, returning every evening as regular as the clock. Now comes tlr*' sequel to my story. Being extra tired one evening I did not take the usual precaution to shake up my blankets afresh that night, but hastily turned in. I fell asleep. Suddenly I woke, conscious of something cold and clammy moving and twining around my wrist, for my bond was hanging over the side of my stretcher and was thus nearly on the ground. Opening my eyes and glancing down I saw a sight which nearly froze the blood in my veins. A deadly black snake some three feet in length had fastened itself around my hand and was climbing up my arm. 1 dared not move or try to shake off the hideous reptile, as at the least, movement it would send its poisonous fangs into my arm. Then I somehow became aware of the long sinewy form of Billy swiftly moving across the floor. I thought it best to leave my arm as it was and let the two reptiles fight for the mastery, the stake for which was a human life. The snake was, 1 saw, fully aware of the presence of its enemy, for 1 saw its dark, wicked eyes positively gleam with venomous rage as it turned its head to meet the foe. It still kept its hold of my wrist. As if the iguana took in the situation at a glance, he sprang between the snake's outstretched head and my arm. I "saw the forked tongue of the snake gleam out wet and dark. I felt the reptile take a firmer hold of my hand as it turned to face the raging fury of Billy. In a flash it was all over. Billy's jaws closed with a snap on the snake's neck and literally tore its head off. and 1 felt the reptile fall off my wrist, with convulsive movements, on to the ground. It was moving when I regained consciousness. That I had not passed through some hideous nightmare was shown as my eves fell upon the dead bodies of Bilk and the snake.

The body of poor Billy was swollen to a great size. He must have been bitten as lie sprang between my arm and the snake's upraised head. Thus did lie repay my kindness by giving his life for my life.— From the December Royal Magazine.