TOM’S ADVENTURE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20782, 17 July 1937, Page 13 (Supplement)

TOM’S ADVENTURE

Tom was certainly a boy who should be happy. He had just passed an excellent examination and had now obtained permission to accompany Uucle Jack back to his plantation in India. During the two months Uncle Jack had been staying in Tom’s home he had been literally followed upon its heels every hour by the boy, who . as quite carried away by his admiration for this fascinating relative, who had brought a breath of the wide world into Tom’s little home town. It was arranged that Tom was to stay with his uncle in India for six months, and if it proved that he could stand the strenuous life in a tropical climate Uncle Jack was willing to take care of his further education. Only a few days passed after his arrival on Uncle Jack’s plantation before Tom began to feel quite at home. His uncle showed him round the great areas belonging to the plantation, and Tom began to learn how to use a gun. It was absolutely necessary for a man who wished to live in the tropice, said Uncle Jack, who was a first-class shot himself. Tom felt quite proud of himself, going about all day long with his gun and longed for an opportunity to display marksmanship. One day, shortly before dusk, his uncle asked him to go to a neighbour’s plantation and deliver a letter. It was about half an hour’s walk, and Uucle Jack entrusted the boy with the errand because he thought it would be good for him to go alone for once. Tom jumped at the opportunity and took care to take his rifle with him of course. The people on the neighbouring plantation being very hospitable, Tom remained with them rather a long time. It was quite dark when he approached his uncle’s bungalow. “Uncle has no doubt gone to bed,” he thought to himself when he saw a light in the bedroom. A little nearer the house he could hear his uncle singing. The nearer he came, the plainer he heard it, as the window was open. Tom approached the window, smiling to

himself because he intended to surprise Uucle Jack by putting his head in at the window unexpectedly. Tom looked in, but the smile froze upon his lips. The singing came from the bed where his uncle lay. His uncle was singing in a strange tone and his eyes were glued on something that lay in front of him on the blanket. Tom almost screamed with terror, but managed to collect himself. Before Uncle Jack lay a big cobra, its neck distended, its head syaying to and fro in time to his song So that was why his uncle had sung the same song over and over again. A few days before he had seen an Indian snake charmer who appeased his snakes, whenever they threatened to attack, by playing his pipe. On hearing the monotonous music a snake is irresistibly fascinated by the tones and is incabable of doing anything but sway to and fro in time to the music. Of course, only for a certain space of time, his uncle had explained to him. This was the method then that Uncle Jack was using to delay the snake's attack, but how long would it help? Tom considered shooting the snake, but dared not on second thoughts. He was not skilled as to dare fire a shot at that swaying head: if he missed the beast would only be infuriated and immediately attack. An electric fan was working on the table between the window and his uncle’s bed. An idea struck Tom! Ever so slowly he reached out with his hand. Yes, by leaning well forward he could just manage to grasp the fan. Now was the moment! Straining every muscle in his body he flung the fan at the cobra. As it hurtled through the air with its whirring Hades, Tom thanked the stars that the flex attached to the fan was as long as it was. The fan reached the bed, hit the cobra full on the neck, and nicked off its head as nicely as a razor would have done. Uncle Jack’s life was saved and from that day onwards the friendship between them was even greater than before.