LIFE FOR A LIFE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8832, 19 January 1907, Page 4

LIFE FOR A LIFE.

THE GRATITUDE OF AN IGUANA LIZARD. In the year 1905 I (a writer in the "Royal Magazine") was working on the mines at Taa-ooola, which is 600 miles north-west of Adelaide. One day in February I was reading in my shed, j when I suddenly became aware of the presence of a visitor in the 6hape of an iguana lizard some 2ft 9in in length. The poor animal was apparently suffering intense agony and pain. A piece J of mulga stick had pierced downward through the animal's leg and literally skewered its thigh part of the limb to the ankle, near its sharp claws. 1 poured out a saucerful of water, which i it greedily drank, and drew out tho i splinter of wood. I then, bathed the wounded leg with water, into which I put some Condy's fluid. After the operation the patient stretched itself by the side of an old box, and was soon- fast asleep, apparently from exhaustion. i 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' ac regular as the clock. Now comes the 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 v*>ld and clammy moving and twining around my wrist, for my. hand was hanging over the side of my stretcher and was thus nearly on th© 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 j length had fastened itself around my I hand and wae climbing up my arm. I 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 ami as it was and let the two reptiles fight for the mastery, the stake for which was a human life. The snake was, I saw, fully aware of the presence of its enemy, for I 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 I felt the reptile fall off my wa-ist, 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 eyps fell upon the dead bodies of Billy and the Biiake. The body cf poor Billy was swollen to a grea"D size. He must have been bitten as he sprang between my arm and the snake's upraised head. Thus did he repay my kindnees by giving his life for my life.