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 ANS: A
Because the welfare of the patient is more important than profit, society has granted the health care professional a certain status that
carries prestige, power, and the right to apply special knowledge and skills.

DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 4 OBJ: 2

TOP: 7.0 Professional Responsibility | 7.4 General

Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 2

 6. Which of the following is regarded as the most important aspect of the delivery of health care services?
a. Technical skill
b. Appropriate knowledge
c. Critical judgment
d. Caring
ANS: D
Although all of the choices are important, caring is regarded as the most important. Patients perceive this essence of caring and
respond to it. Trust is the critical foundation for the relationship between the person seeking services and the health care provider.
The caring that the patient seeks also gives the provider the greatest opportunity for professional service and satisfaction.

DIF: Recall REF: p. 4 OBJ: 2

TOP: 7.0 Professional Responsibility | 7.4 General

7. The publication “Medical Professionalism in the New Millennium: A Physician Charter” set out three fundamental principles,
including patient welfare, patient autonomy, and the principle of social justice, because it is thought this will reinvigorate the value
of professionalism.
a. Both the statement and reason are correct and related.
b. Both the statement and reason are correct but NOT related.
c. The statement is correct, but the reason is NOT.
d. The statement is NOT correct, but the reason is correct.
e. NEITHER the statement NOR the reason is correct.
ANS: A
The Physician Charter sets out three fundamental principles that are not new but reinforce the foundation of the medical profession
as one of service to others. The ethical principles of the primacy of patient welfare (beneficence and nonmaleficence) and patient
autonomy are listed first; the principle of social justice is the third main tenet. The desired goal was to reinvigorate the value of
professionalism that includes social responsibility, the ethic of care, and access to that care, for all members of society.

DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 5 OBJ: 3

TOP: 7.0 Professional Responsibility | 7.4 General

8. Each of the following is a requirement for licensure of a dental hygienist in the United States EXCEPT one. Which one is the
EXCEPTION?
a. Completion of a higher education accredited program
b. Graduation from a college or university
c. Passed a written national board examination
d. Passed a clinical national board examination
ANS: D
There is no clinical national board examination. The dental hygiene candidate for licensure must pass a state or regional clinical
examination. Examples of regional boards include the Council of Interstate Testing Agencies (CITA), the Central Regional Dental
Testing Services, Inc. (CRDTS), the Commission on Dental Competency Assessments (CDCA), the Southern Regional Testing
Agency, Inc. (SRTA), and the Western Regional Examining Board (WERB).

DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 5 OBJ: 3

TOP: 7.0 Professional Responsibility | 7.4 General

9. Which of the following characteristics is used to separate the professional from the layperson?
a. Competency
b. Quality performance
c. A specialized body of knowledge and skill of value to society
d. A code of ethics
ANS: C
To be considered a profession, a specific field or area of study traditionally must have several characteristics. These include a
specialized body of knowledge and skill of value to society, an intensive academic course of study, set standards of practice
determined and regulated by the group, external recognition by society, a code of ethics, an organized association, and a service
ethic. What separates the professional from the layperson is specialized knowledge, which is exclusive to the professional group.

DIF: Recall REF: p. 5 OBJ: 3

TOP: 7.0 Professional Responsibility | 7.4 General

10. Each of the following is considered to be a true profession EXCEPT one. Which one is the EXCEPTION?
a. Law
b. Medicine
c. Dentistry
d. Culinary chef
e. Ministry
ANS: D
Because being a professional is desirable, many careers and occupations aspire to this level. Real estate agents, auto mechanics, and
culinary chefs all use the term professional to indicate a desired level of competency and quality performance. However, the true
professions are still considered to be medicine, dentistry, ministry, and law because they possess all the characteristics previously
listed, including a specialized body of knowledge and skill of value to society, an intensive academic course of study, set standards
of practice determined and regulated by the group, external recognition by society, a code of ethics, an organized association, and a
service ethic.

DIF: Recall REF: p. 6 OBJ: 3

TOP: 7.0 Professional Responsibility | 7.4 General

Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 3

 11. Professionalism is demonstrated through a foundation of clinical competence, communication skills, and ethical and legal
understanding. Upon this foundation is built the aspiration to and wise application of the principles of professionalism.
a. Both statements are true.
b. Both statements are false.
c. The first statement is true, the second statement is false.
d. The first statement is false, the second statement is true.
ANS: A
The principles of professionalism are excellence, humanism, accountability, and altruism. Highlights of the Standards for Clinical
Dental Hygiene Practice include assessment, dental hygiene diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation, and documentation.
Professional traits of the dental hygienist include honesty and integrity, caring and compassion, reliability and responsibility,
maturity and self-analysis, loyalty, interpersonal communication, respect for others, and respect for self.

DIF: Recall REF: p. 6 OBJ: 3

TOP: 7.0 Professional Responsibility | 7.4 General

12. Which of the following models or professionalism presents dentistry as an all-knowing profession?
a. Commercial
b. Guild
c. Interactive
ANS: B
It is called the guild model because it resembles the medieval guild of old in which those who were members of the group
controlled knowledge, skill, and competency. In this model the patient has dental needs and the dentist provides care to meet the
needs of that patient, who is uninformed and passive in the process. The commercial model describes a relationship in which
dentistry is a commodity, a simple selling and buying of services. In the interactive model, the patient and dentist are equals and
have roles of equal moral status in the process of the delivery of dental care.

DIF: Recall REF: p. 6 OBJ: 3

TOP: 7.0 Professional Responsibility | 7.4 General

13. Which of the practice models described by Ozar is considered most desirable?
a. Guild
b. Interactive
c. Commercial
ANS: B
According to the interactive model, patients determine their own needs and health care choices on the basis of their personal values
and priorities but seek the care of the dentist because of his or her knowledge and skill. This model is preferable because it presents
the patient and provider as partners who make different contributions to the partnership. This equal moral status creates an
obligation for equal respect as partners working together toward attaining and maintaining oral health.

DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 6 OBJ: 3

TOP: 7.0 Professional Responsibility | 7.4 General

14. Which of the following is an example of interprofessional education (IPE) in an academic health center involving two different
health education organizations?
a. Nursing students learn about nursing bottle caries along with dental hygiene
students.
b. Dental students learn about preventive fluoride along with dental hygiene
students.
c. Dental students learn about dental restorative procedures along with dental
hygiene students.
d. Dental hygiene students learn about dental preventive procedures along with
dental assisting students.
ANS: A
The term IPE refers to occasions when students from two or more health professions learn together during all or part of their
professional training with the objective of cultivating collaborative practice to improve the quality of patient care at the individual
and population level. The Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) includes six major health education organizations: the
American Association of Colleges of Nursing, American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, American Association
of Colleges of Pharmacy, American Dental Education Association, Association of American Medical Colleges, and Association of
Schools of Public Health.

DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 7 OBJ: 4

TOP: 7.0 Professional Responsibility | 7.3 Patient and Professional Communication

Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 4

 15. Which of the following organizations is recognized by the United States Department of Education to accredit programs for dental
hygiene in the United States?
a. The college or university with the dental hygiene program
b. The American Dental Hygiene Association (ADHA)
c. The State Board of Dentistry for the respective state
d. The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
ANS: D
The Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) is the specialized accrediting agency recognized by the United States
Department of Education to accredit programs that provide basic preparation for licensure in dentistry, dental hygiene, and all
related dental disciplines. The commission consists of 30 members and includes a representative of the ADHA. All accredited
programs participate in an accreditation review every 7 years. The program prepares a self-analysis and self-study report with
information about program resources, curriculum, policies, and standards. This report is submitted to the CODA in preparation for
an on-site review by CODA team members. The members of the commission interview administrators, faculty, staff, and students
to verify the information contained in the self-study. Next, the CODA team members create a site visit report for both the
institution and the Commission. The Commission reviews the report and makes a decision to offer accreditation status without a
reporting requirement or accreditation status with a reporting requirement. Programs must demonstrate compliance with
Commission recommendations or risk loss of accreditation.

DIF: Recall REF: p. 9 OBJ: 5

TOP: 7.0 Professional Responsibility | 7.4 General

16. How often must a dental hygiene program undergo a formal, on-site review by the accrediting body?
a. Every 10 years
b. Every 7 years
c. Every 3 years
d. Only once, when the program is first created
ANS: B
A formal, on-site review is conducted every 7 years by the Commission on Dental Accreditation of the American Dental
Association. All accredited dental programs have accreditation every 7 years, except for oral and maxillofacial surgery programs.
These programs are reviewed every 5 years.

DIF: Recall REF: p. 9 OBJ: 5

TOP: 7.0 Professional Responsibility | 7.4 General

17. Which of the following is the correct sequence for the stages of mastery learning according to the competency continuum?
a. Novice, proficient, competent
b. Master, competent, novice
c. Novice, competent, proficient
d. Proficient, novice, competent
e. Competent, novice, master
ANS: C
Educational theory categorizes the process of skill performance into five stages of mastery learning, also termed the competency
continuum. The five stages are novice, beginner, competent, proficient, and master. The student is a novice or advanced beginner
when he or she begins preclinical activities and progresses to caring for clinical patients under the supervision of faculty. The
student will have achieved competency at or before graduation, meaning that he or she has the ability to perform clinical skills
without faculty supervision. After graduation, the dental hygienist works toward proficiency and continues working throughout his
or her professional life, toward becoming an expert.

DIF: Recall REF: p. 9 OBJ: 6

TOP: 7.0 Professional Responsibility | 7.4 General

18. Each of the following is one of the American Dental Hygiene Association (ADHA) standards for clinical dental hygiene practice
EXCEPT one. Which one is the EXCEPTION?
a. Implementation
b. Documentation
c. Recapitulation
d. Assessment
e. Dental hygiene diagnosis
ANS: C
The six ADHA standards of practice are assessment, dental hygiene diagnosis, planning, implementation, evaluation, and
documentation. Implementation is the delivery of dental hygiene services to the patient. Modification of care often occurs to
minimize risk, thus optimizing the outcome of the care plan. Documentation is the accurate recording of collected data, treatment
planned and provided during patient care, is entered to create a permanent document. Assessment is the systematic collection,
analysis, and documentation of oral and general health status and patient needs. It is comprised of patient history collection,
performing a clinical evaluation, and measuring risk assessment. Dental hygiene diagnosis is the identification of an existing or
potential oral health problem that the hygienist is educationally qualified and licensed to treat. Establishing, reviewi ng, revising,
and publishing these standards are professional responsibilities that the ADHA assumes for its members to ensure that professional
practice is based on the best and most scientifically accurate evidence and practice approaches.

DIF: Recall REF: p. 9 OBJ: 6

TOP: 7.0 Professional Responsibility | 7.4 General

Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 5

 19. Which of the following terms is used to describe that core of health care that places the needs of the patient or client ahead of those
of the provider?
a. Autonomy
b. Justice
c. Beneficence
d. Nonmaleficence
e. Veracity
ANS: C
The professional traits of a successful dental hygienist are found in the basics of professionalism. All of the traits are rooted in
beneficence: the core of health care that places the needs of the patient or client ahead of those of the provider. Autonomy is
self-determination and the ability to be self-governing and self-directing. The principle of justice is concerned with providing
individuals or groups with what is owed, due, or deserved. Nonmaleficence declares that a health care provider’s first obligation to
the patient is to do no harm. Veracity is defined as being honest and telling the truth.

DIF: Recall REF: p. 10 OBJ: 7

TOP: 7.0 Professional Responsibility | 7.4 General

20. An individual who demonstrates certain attributes, traits, and behaviors that embrace the best qualities of care and service is known
as a
a. professional.
b. technician.
c. vendor.
d. supplier.
ANS: A
From the perspective of the general population, the term professional has evolved to mean an individual who demonstrates certain
attributes, traits, and behaviors that embrace the best qualities of care and service. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a
technician is a person with a job related to the practical use of machines or science in industry or medicine, a vendor is a person
who sells things, especially on the street, and a supplier is a person or entity that is a source for goods or services.

DIF: Recall REF: p. 10 OBJ: 7

TOP: 7.0 Professional Responsibility | 7.4 General

21. According to the ethicist Laurence McCullough the two virtues required in a professional person are
a. honesty and integrity.
b. self-effacement and self-sacrifice.
c. caring and compassion.
d. maturity and self-analysis.
ANS: B
Laurence McCullough has stated that there are two virtues required in a professional person. The first is self-effacement, which
means putting aside all notions of self as better educated, socially superior, or more economically well off and focusing on the
needs of the patient. The second is self-sacrifice, or putting aside or giving up one’s own interests and concerns. Honesty and
integrity, caring and compassion, and maturity and self-analysis are professional traits of the dental hygienist; however, they are not
the two virtues mentioned by Laurence McCullough.

DIF: Recall REF: p. 10 OBJ: 7

TOP: 7.0 Professional Responsibility | 7.1 Ethical Principles, including informed consent

22. Which of the following professional traits of the dental hygienist ensures that the patient should be confident that information given
in written and verbal form is held in confidence and handled appropriately?
a. Caring and compassion
b. Reliability and responsibility
c. Maturity and self-analysis
d. Honesty and integrity
ANS: D
While it is true that all of the choices are professional traits, a relationship of trust is essential to providing care when personal
health information is shared. Patients and colleagues must be able to depend on the words and actions of individuals who treat and
work with them. Professional integrity is a commitment to upholding the code of ethics and the standards of care.

DIF: Recall REF: p. 11 OBJ: 7

TOP: 7.0 Professional Responsibility | 7.1 Ethical Principles, including informed consent

23. Which of the following terms means demonstrating the empathy necessary to comfort and guide the patient in the health promotion
process?
a. Caring
b. Reliability
c. Tolerance
d. Loyalty
e. Honesty
ANS: A
The ability to care for and be compassionate to each and every patient is a critical trait expected of all individuals who seek a career
in a health care profession. Persons who are compassionate are merciful to all patients, including those who are unlike themselves
or who are possibly difficult to understand and treat.

DIF: Recall REF: p. 11 OBJ: 7

TOP: 7.0 Professional Responsibility | 7.1 Ethical Principles, including informed consent

Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 6

 24. Most states have a legal requirement for continuing education for those who hold a dental hygiene or dental license because
mandated continuing education helps ensure optimal health services to the public.
a. Both that statement and reason are correct and related.
b. Both the statement and reason are correct but NOT related.
c. The statement is correct, but the reason is NOT.
d. The statement is NOT correct, but the reason is correct.
e. NEITHER the statement NOR the reason is correct.
ANS: A
The goal of mandated continuing education is to ensure optimal health services to the public by fostering continued competence. It
is critical for a practitioner to be aware of the continuing education requirements for the state in which he or she practices because
they vary from state to state. Information about state requirements may be found on the American Dental Hygiene Association
website or on individual state dental board websites.

DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 12 OBJ: 7

TOP: 7.0 Professional Responsibility | 7.2 Regulatory Compliance

25. The trait in which the dental hygienist assesses his or her skills and takes responsibility for changing and improving those skills
when necessary is called
a. integrity.
b. self-analysis.
c. loyalty.
d. reliability.
e. interpersonal communication.
ANS: B
Self-analysis is assessment of skills and taking responsibility for changing and improving them when necessary. Professional
integrity is a commitment to upholding the code of ethics and the standards of care. Loyalty is protecting and promoting the
interests of a person, group, or organization. Reliability is meeting the obligations of time and duty, keeping appointments and
meeting established schedules. The foundation of trust lies in communication and the ability of the patient to speak and be heard.

DIF: Recall REF: p. 11 OBJ: 7

TOP: 7.0 Professional Responsibility | 7.1 Ethical Principles, including informed consent

26. Loyalty is defined as

a. to treat all patients without discrimination.
b. to work toward the goals of attaining and maintaining oral health for each patient.
c. protecting and promoting the interests of a person, group, or organization.
d. a commitment to upholding the code of ethics and the standards of care.
ANS: C
Any relationship between a health care provider and a patient is a special affiliation; all professional decisions must be
unencumbered by conflicting personal interests. To treat all patients without discrimination is an example of tolerance. A mature
individual works efficiently and effectively toward the goals of attaining and maintaining oral health for each patient. Honesty and
integrity are exemplified by a commitment to uphold the code of ethics and the standards of care.

DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 11 OBJ: 7

TOP: 7.0 Professional Responsibility | 7.1 Ethical Principles, including informed consent

27. When a license to practice dental hygiene is granted, that person is responsible for knowing and upholding the laws established by
the state dental practice act. If a portion of the code is changed subsequent to the date of licensure, that person is not responsible for
practicing according to revisions in the law.
a. Both statements are true.
b. Both statements are false.
c. The first statement is true, the second statement is false.
d. The first statement is false, the second statement is true.
ANS: C
The person must practice according to the current laws. Ignorance of a portion of the law or code is not an excuse for
noncompliance by a dental hygienist or any other health care provider. The ADHA Code of Ethics for Standards of Professional
Responsibility (To Ourselves as Professionals) states that a dental hygienist should “enhance professional competencies through
continuous learning in order to practice according to high standards of care.” It also states (To Scientific Investigati on) “Be
knowledgeable concerning currently accepted preventive and therapeutic methods, products, and technology and their application
to our practice.”

DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 12 OBJ: 7

TOP: 7.0 Professional Responsibility | 7.2 Regulatory Compliance

28. A license to practice as a dental hygienist is granted by

a. The American Dental Association
b. The American Dental Hygienists’ Association
c. The State Board of Dentistry
d. The school of matriculation, meaning where the student graduated
ANS: C
Licenses are granted by the state. All state boards, as well as those in the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico, grant a license to practice
to the dental hygienist. The responsibility and power for legislative protection of the public rest with each individual state or
territory. Licensure is designed to enforce practice codes, establish standards, and sanction incompetent practitioners.

DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 12 OBJ: 7

TOP: 7.0 Professional Responsibility | 7.2 Regulatory Compliance

Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 7

 29. Which of the following individuals is regarded as the father of dental hygiene?
a. Dr. David T. Ozar
b. Dr. Laurence McCullough
c. Dr. A. C. Fones
d. Dr. Carl Rogers
ANS: C
Dr. Fones is regarded as the father of dental hygiene. The scope of practice of a dental hygienist was first established by law in
Connecticut in 1915 at the urging of Dr. Fones. The Connecticut dental law served as a model for the states that later adopted
similar legislation. Dr. Ozar is credited with developing the three models of professionalism. Dr. McCullough stated that two
virtues are required in a professional person. Dr. Rogers was a famous humanistic psychologist.

DIF: Recall REF: p. 12 OBJ: 7

TOP: 7.0 Professional Responsibility | 7.4 General

30. Most legislative changes related to dental health care are driven by individuals in the dental or dental hygiene profess ion. For the
most part the public remains unaware of the intricacies of the process.
a. Both statements are true.
b. Both statements are false.
c. The first statement is true, the second statement is false.
d. The first statement is false, the second statement is true.
ANS: A
Some of the factors that influence legislative changes in a state include the need and demand for dental care, the distribution of
dental health care providers, federal health legislation, and the goals of organized dental and dental hygiene associati on’s advocacy
groups.

DIF: Recall REF: p. 12 OBJ: 7

TOP: 7.0 Professional Responsibility | 7.4 General

31. Which of the following is regarded as an expanded function for a dental hygienist rather than a traditional duty?
a. Scaling and root planing
b. Patient education
c. Exposing dental radiographs
d. Administration of an injection
ANS: D
Examples of expanded functions include administration of injectable local anesthesia or placement of restorative material. Some
states have implemented an additional practice level for dental hygienists. Individuals pursuing this level of practice must complete
additional training in periodontal or restorative functions and be sanctioned to perform these skills by the particular state in which
they practice.

DIF: Recall REF: p. 13 OBJ: 7

TOP: 7.0 Professional Responsibility | 7.2 Regulatory Compliance

32. A dental hygienist can practice independently of a dentist in all states, because several states have adopted mechanisms to allow
practice without the supervision of a dentist after gaining a special license or credential.
a. Both that statement and reason are correct and related.
b. Both the statement and reason are correct but NOT related.
c. The statement is correct, but the reason is NOT.
d. The statement is NOT correct, but the reason is correct.
e. NEITHER the statement NOR the reason is correct.
ANS: D
It is true that several states have adopted mechanisms to allow a dental hygienist to practice without the supervision of a dentist
after gaining a special license or credential. But states differ in which services are permitted and the level of supervision required,
and only duties or functions allowed in a particular state may be performed, even if an individual is trained and licensed in another
state when the dental practice act is more expansive.

DIF: Comprehension REF: p. 13 OBJ: 7

TOP: 7.0 Professional Responsibility | 7.2 Regulatory Compliance

Copyright © 2017, Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. 8

Exploring the Variety of Random
Documents with Different Content
of Venetian gondoliers, their oars being secured to a stout peg in the
side by a loop of hemp.

Harry started off down the garden to meet the passenger, who
was seated amidships beneath an awning; and as the men ran the
craft deftly up to the landing-place, a dark-complexioned, black-
haired lad sprang on to the bamboo platform, looking wonderfully
European as to his dress, for it was simply of white flannel. It was
the little scarlet military cap and the brightly tinted plaid sarong with
kris at the waist which gave the Eastern tinge to his appearance.

"Well," he said, in excellent English, as he joined Harry, "what

have they got? Something from their traps in the jungle?"

"Don't know anything. There they are yonder. We waited till you
came."

"Oh," said the Siamese lad, with a gratified look, "I like that. I'm
afraid I shouldn't have waited, Hal."

"Oh, but then you're a prince," said Harry.

The Siamese lad stopped short.

"If you're going to chaff me about that, I shall go back," he said.

"All right; I won't then," said Harry. "You can't help it, can you?"

"Of course I can't, and I shan't be able to help it when I'm king
some day."

"Poor fellow, no; how horrible!" said Harry mockingly.

 "There you go again. You've got one of your teasing fits on to-
day."

"No, no, I haven't. It's all right, Phra, and I won't say another
word of that sort. Come along."

"Good-morning," said Mr. Kenyon, as the boys reached the

verandah.
"Come to see our prize?"

"Yes, Mr. Kenyon. What is it you have this time?"

"We are waiting to see. Harry here wanted it to be kept for you."

The new-comer turned to give Harry a grateful nod and a smile,

and then walked with his host along the verandah, and turned the
corner.

The moment he appeared, the hunter and the two men leaped up
excitedly and dropped upon their knees, raising their hands to the
sides of their faces and lowering their heads till their foreheads
nearly touched the bamboo floor.

The young Prince said a few words sharply in his own language,
and the men sprang up.

"Now then, Mr. Kenyon," he said, "let's see what is in the basket."

"What have you got, Sree?" asked Mr. Kenyon.

"Very fine, big snake, Sahib," was the reply.

"A snake?" cried Harry excitedly. "Ugh!"

 "A big one?" said the merchant uneasily. Then, recalling the habit
of exaggeration so freely indulged in by these people as a rule, he
asked the size.

"Long as two men and a half, Sahib," said Sree. "Very thick, like
man's leg. Very heavy to carry."

"Humph! Twelve or fourteen feet long, I suppose," said Mr.

Kenyon. "Is it dangerous?"

"No, Sahib. I find him asleep in the jungle. He eat too much; go to
sleep for long time. Didn't try to bite when we lift him into the
basket. Very heavy."

"What do you say, Prince?" said the merchant. "Shall we have the
lid off and look at it?"

"Yes. I won't be afraid," was the reply. "Will you, Hal?"

"Not if the brute's asleep; but if it's awake and pops out at us, I
shall run for your boat."

"And leave your poor father in the lurch?" said Mr. Kenyon.

"But you'd run too, wouldn't you, father?"

"Not if the snake threw one of its coils round me."

"Then I suppose I shall have to stay," said Harry slowly.

"Perhaps it would be as well," said Mr. Kenyon drily—"You won't

run, will you?"

The young Siamese laughed merrily, and showed his white teeth.
 "I don't know," he said; "I'm afraid I should. Snakes are so strong,
and they bite. I think it would be best to go with Harry."

The hunter said something very humbly in the native tongue.

"He says that he and his men would hold tight on to the snake if it
were angry, and shut it up again; but I don't believe they could.
They would all run away too."

"I don't think there is any danger," said Mr. Kenyon gravely. "These
things always try to escape back to the jungle, and they are, I
believe, more frightened of us than we are of them. We'll have a
look at the creature, then, out here, for I have no suitable place for
it at present."

"You could turn the birds out of the little aviary and let it loose
there, father."

"Good idea, Hal; but let's see it first. Look here, Sree; you and
your men must lay hold of the brute if it tries to escape."

"Yes, Sahib; we catch it and shut the lid down again."

"That's right," said the merchant. "Yes, who's that? Oh, you, Mike.
Come to see the prisoner set free? Come and stand a little farther
this way."

"Thank you, sir; yes, sir," said the man.

Harry nudged the Prince, and the nudge was returned, with a
laughing glance.

"No danger, is there, sir?" said Mike respectfully.

 "I hope not," said Mr. Kenyon; "but you will be no worse off than
we are. Like to go back before the basket is opened?"

"Isn't time, sir; they've nearly got it open now."

"Run round the other way, Mike," cried Harry.

"Me, sir? No, thank you," replied the man. "I don't want to run."

Meanwhile the two bearers were holding the lid of the basket
firmly down while Sree pulled out eight stout elastic skewers of
bamboo, which had held the lid tightly in place. And as one after the
other was slowly and carefully extracted with as little movement of
the basket as possible, so as not to irritate the snake if awake, or to
disturb it if asleep, the interest and excitement increased till only one
was left, when Harry glanced at Mike, who stood with eyes widely
staring, cheeks puffed out, and fists clenched, as if about to start off
at full speed.

Sree looked up at Mr. Kenyon as the two men pressed down

harder and he stood ready to pull out the last skewer.

"Out with it," said Mr. Kenyon, and a thrill ran through all present
as the last piece of bamboo was withdrawn.

But still the lid was pressed down, and of this the hunter took
hold, said a few words to his two men, who stood back right and
left, ready to help if necessary, while their master had stationed
himself at the back of the basket, facing his employer and the two
boys. He held the lid with outstretched hands, and once more he
paused and looked at Mr. Kenyon as if waiting for orders to proceed,
his aim of course being to make the whole business as impressive as
possible.

"Now then, off with it," cried Harry, and in spite of their
excitement, to the amusement of the two boys the hunters took off
the lid with a tremendous flourish, and stood back smiling with
triumph.

"Just like Mike taking the dish-cover off a roast peacock," as Harry
afterwards said.

It was too much for the last-mentioned personage. As the basket

was laid open for the gentlemen to see its contents, Mike took half a
dozen steps backward as fast as he could, and with his eye fixed
upon the open basket he was in the act of turning to run, when he
saw everyone else stand fast.

"Lies pretty quiet at the bottom," said Harry, advancing with Phra,
Mr. Kenyon keeping close behind.

"Only a little one," said the young Prince, rather contemptuously.

"Here! I say, Sree; what do you mean by this?" cried Harry.

"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Phra. "This is one of your tricks, Hal."

"That it isn't," cried the boy.

"Where is the snake, Sree?" said Mr. Kenyon. "The basket's

empty."
CHAPTER III

SREE'S PRISONER

The hunter took a couple of steps forward, looked down into the
basket, looked up, half stunned with astonishment, looked in the lid,
then outside it, lifted up the basket and peered under it, threw down
the lid, felt in his sarong, and then, as there was no heavy boa
twelve or fourteen feet long in its folds, he turned fiercely to the two
men in turn to ask them angrily in their own tongue what they had
done with the snake.

Both of them felt in their sarongs and began to protest volubly

that they had not touched it; that it was there just now, for they had
heard it and felt the weight. It was there—it must be there—and
their master had better look again.

"It's a conjuring trick," said Phra, who looked annoyed.

"I had nothing to do with it, then," said Harry. "I hadn't, honour
bright," he added hurriedly as his companion looked doubtingly at
him. "Here, Sree, have you begun to learn juggling?"
 "No, Sahib; it was a lovely snake, all yellow, with big brown spots
and purple shadows all over the dark parts. One of these sons of
wickedness must have taken it out to sell it to some ship captain to
carry away. Surely Sree would not try to cheat the good Sahibs and
his Prince by playing tricks like an Indian juggler. Here, Michael; you
heard the snake inside before the master came?"

"Yes," said Mike, who looked quite brave now, as he approached

and looked into the basket searchingly. "I'm sure I heard it plainly,
but there's no snake here now. There has been one here, though,
for you can smell it."

"Yes, there has been one here," cried Harry eagerly. "Then where
is it gone?"

"Something dreadful has blinded all our eyes, Sahib, so that we

cannot see. Thrust in your hand and feel if it is there."

Harry shrank for the moment, for the idea of feeling after a snake
that had been rendered invisible was startling; but feeling ashamed
the next moment of his superstitious folly, he plunged his hand down
into the basket, felt round it, and stood up.

"There's nothing in there," he said.

"Well, you could see that there was not," said his father shortly.

"But there has been one there quite lately," said Harry. "Smell my
fingers, Phra."

"Pouf! Serpent!" cried the young Prince, with a gesture of disgust.

"It must have got away."
 Sree took hold of the basket, bent down into it, looked all round,
and then to the surprise of all he stood it up again, turned it round a
little, and then jumped in, to stand upright.

The surprise came to an end directly, for Sree pointed downward,

and as he did so he thrust his toes through the bottom of the
basket, where no hole had been apparent, but which gave way
easily to the pressure of the man's foot from within, thus showing
that it must have been broken at that one particular place.

"What! A hole in the bottom for the reptile to crawl out? That was
wise of you, Sree!"

"I was wise, Sahib, and the basket had no hole in it when we put
the snake in."

"Then it must have made one, and forced its way through."

Sree was silent, and looked at Mike as if waiting for him to speak.
But Mike had not the least intention of speaking, and stood with his
lips pinched together, perfectly dumb.

"Why, of course!" cried Harry excitedly; "I see now. Mike gave the
basket a tremendous kick as he went by it, and startled the serpent,
and made it swing about. Why, Mike, you must have broken a hole
through then."

"Master Harry, I—" began Mike.

"Yes, Sahib, that was it; he broke a hole through, and once the
snake's head was through he would force his way right out."
 "One minute," said Mr. Kenyon rather anxiously; "tell me, Harry:
are you perfectly sure that the snake was there?"

"Certain, father."

"And you saw Michael kick the basket?"

"Oh yes, father; and Michael knows he did."

"That's right enough, sir; but I didn't mean to let the brute out."

"No, no, of course not," said Mr. Kenyon anxiously: "but if the
serpent was in that basket a short time ago and is gone now, it must
either be in one of the rooms here by the verandah or just beneath
the house."

"Ow!" ejaculated Mike, with a look of horror, as he glanced round;

and then he shouted as he pointed to an opening in one corner of
the verandah, where a great bamboo had been shortened for the
purpose of ventilating the woodwork beneath the bungalow, "That's
the way he has gone, sir; that's the way he has gone."

It seemed only too probable, for it was just the kind of place in
which a fugitive, gloom-loving reptile would seek for a hiding-place;
while as if to prove the truth of Mike's guess there was a sharp,
squeaking sound heard somewhere below the house, and one after
the other three rats dashed out of the opening, darted across the
verandah, and sprang into the garden, disappearing directly
amongst the plants.

"Yes," said Mr. Kenyon; "the reptile seems to have gone under the
house."
 "And he will clear away all the rats, Sahib," said Sree, in a tone of
voice which seemed to add, "and what could you wish for better
than that?"

"But I think that my son and I would rather have the rats, my
man.
What do you say, Hal?"

"Yes, father; of course. We can't live here with a horrible thing like
that always lying in wait for us. How long did you say it was, Sree?"

"Two men and a half, Sahib."

"And that's a man and a half too long, Sree. What's to be done?"

Sree looked disconsolately at the merchant, and slowly rubbed his

blacking-brush-like hair.

"The Sahib told me to bring everything I could find in the jungle,

and this was a lovely snake, all yellow and brown and purple like
tortoiseshell. The Sahib would have been so pleased."

"No doubt, if I could have got it shut up safely in some kind of

cage; but you see you have let it go."

"If the Sahib will pardon me," said the man humbly.

"Of course; yes, it was not your fault, but Michael's. Well, Michael,
how are you going to catch this great snake?"

"Me catch it, sir?" said Mike mildly.

"Yes, of course; we can't leave it at liberty here."

 "I thought perhaps you would shoot at it, sir, or Master Harry
would have a pop at it with his gun."

"That's all very well, Mike; but it's of no use to shoot till you can
see it," cried Harry.

"How can we drive it out, Sree?" said Mr. Kenyon. "We must get
rid of it somehow."

Sree shook his head.

"I'm afraid it will go to sleep now, Sahib," he said.

"For how long?"

"Three weeks or a month, Sahib. Until it gets hungry again."

"Why not get guns and two of us stand near here to see if it
comes out of this hole, while the others go from room to room
hammering on the floor?"

"That sounds well," said the merchant.

"And it would be good to try first if a cat would go down. Snakes

do not like cats or the mongoose, and the cat might drive it out.
Cats hate snakes."

"That sounds like a good plan, too, Sree. Suppose we try that first.
We have a cat, but what about a mongoose? Have you got one?"

"I had one when I was in Hindooland, Sahib, but perhaps it is

dead now."
 "If not, it's of no use to us now," said Mr. Kenyon sarcastically.
"Here, Hal, go in and get the two guns hanging in my room. Bring
the powder-flasks and pouches too. Be careful, my lad; the guns are
loaded."

"Come along, Phra," said Harry.

"No, I am going back for my gun."

"I meant to lend you one of mine," said the merchant quietly. "You
two lads ought to be able to shoot that reptile if we succeed in
driving it out."

"Ah!" cried the young Siamese eagerly. "Thank you."

He looked gratefully at Mr. Kenyon, and then followed Harry into

the bungalow.

"This is a nice job," said the latter. "We shall never drive the brute
out. This place was built as if they wanted to make a snug,
comfortable home for a boa constrictor. There are double floors,
double ceilings, and double walls. There's every convenience for the
brute, whether he wants to stay a week or a year."

"Never mind; it will be good fun hunting him. Where are the
guns?"

"Here, in father's room," said the boy, leading the way into the
lightly furnished bed-chamber with its matted floor and walls, bath,
and couch well draped with mosquito net.

One side was turned into quite a little armoury, guns and swords
being hung against the wall, while pouches, shot-belts, and powder-
flasks had places to themselves.

"Take care," said Harry, as he took down and handed a gun to his
companion, who smiled and nodded.

"Yes," he said; "but it isn't the first time I've had hold of a gun."

"Well, I know that, Phra. You needn't turn rusty about it. I only
said so because it comes natural to warn any one to be careful."

"Hist! Listen," said the Prince, holding up his hand.

Harry had heard the sound at the same moment. It was a strange,
rustling, creeping sound, as of horny scales passing over wood in the
wall to their right.

A look of intelligence passed between the boys, and they stood

listening for a few moments, which were quite sufficient to satisfy
them that the object of their visit within was gliding slowly up
between the bamboos of the open wall, probably to reach the palm-
thatched roof.

But it was not to do so without hindrance, for after darting

another look at his companion Phra cocked his gun, walked close to
the wall, and after listening again and again he placed the muzzle of
his piece about six inches from the thin teak matting-covered
boarding, and fired.

The result was immediate. Whether hit or only startled by the

shot, the reptile fell with a loud thud and there was the evident
sound of writhing and twisting about.
 "Well done, Phra! You've shot him!" cried Harry; "but if he dies
there we shall have to take the floor up to get him out."

"What is it, boys? Have you seen the snake?"

"No, sir. I heard it in the wall, and fired."

"Yes, and you have hit it, too," said the merchant. "Listen."

The boys were quite ready to obey, and all stood attentively trying
to analyse the meaning of the movements below the floor.

It proved to be easy enough, for the violent writhings ceased, and

the serpent began to ascend the side of the room again in the
hollow wall.

They went on tip-toe to the spot they had marked down, and as
soon as they were still again they could hear the faint crick, crick,
crick of the scales on the wood, as the serpent crawled from
beneath the floor and extended itself more and more up the side, so
that it was plain enough to trace the length upward, till evidently a
good six feet had been reached.

"My turn now," said Harry, cocking his piece. "Shall I fire father?"

"No; it would only bring it down again, and if it dies beneath the
floor or in the wall it will be a great nuisance to get it out. It will
mean picking the place to pieces."

"Let it go on up into the roof, then."

"Yes," said Mr. Kenyon; "if it gets up there it will be sure to

descend to the eaves, and if we keep a pretty good watch we shall
see it coming down slowly, and you will both get a good shot at it."

They stood listening for a few minutes longer, and then the crick,
crick in the wall ceased, and it was evident that a long and heavy
body was gliding along over the ceiling.

"Now then, boys, out with you, and I think I'll bring a gun too; but
you shall have the honour of shooting the brute if you can. By the
way, I don't think Sree has exaggerated as to the reptile's length,
and I shall be glad to get rid of such a neighbour."

"It's not moving now," said Harry, in a whisper.

"Yes, I can hear it," said Phra, whose ears were preternaturally
sharp; "it's creeping towards where it can see the light shine
through, and it will come out right on the roof."

The little party hurried out to where Mike and the three Siamese
were anxiously watching the hole in the corner of the verandah, the
three latter armed with bamboo poles, and their long knives in their
waist-folds, while Mike had furnished himself with a rusty old cavalry
sword which he had bought in London, and brought with him
because he thought it might some day prove to be useful.

Their watching in the verandah came to an end on the appearance

of the little party, and they were posted ready to rush in to the
attack of the reptile if it should be shot and come wriggling down off
the attap thatch.

But for some minutes after the whole party had commenced their
watching there was no sign of the escaped prize, not the faintest
rustle or crackle of the crisp, sun-dried roof.
 Phra began to grow impatient at having to stand in the hot sun
holding a heavy gun ready for firing, and Harry was little better, for
the effort of watching in the dazzling glare affected his eyes.

"Can't you send somebody inside to bang the ceiling with a stick,
Mr.
Kenyon?" said Phra at last.

"Yes," said that gentleman. "This is getting rather weary work.

Here, Mike, go indoors and listen till you hear the snake rustling over
the ceiling of my room, and then thump loudly with a bamboo."

"Yes, sir," said Mike promptly, and he took two steps towards the
house, and then stopped and coughed.

"Well, what is it?" said Mr. Kenyon.

"I beg pardon, sir; but suppose the beast has taken fright at
seeing you all waiting for him, and got into the house to hide."

"Yes?" said Mr. Kenyon.

"And is scrawming about all over the floor. What shall I do then?"

"Don't lose a chance; hit it over the head or tail with all your
might."

Mike looked warmer than ever, and began to wipe the great drops
of perspiration off his forehead.

"Yes, sir," he said respectfully.

"We must not stop to be nice now, for it seems to be hopeless to

think of capturing the reptile again, and I can't have such a brute as
that haunting the place."

"No, sir, of course not," said Mike.

"Well go on," said Mr. Kenyon sharply. "You are not afraid, are
you?"

"Oh no, sir, not a bit; but—"

Mr. Kenyon shrugged his shoulders and strode into the house,
while the two lads burst out laughing.

"I say, Mike, you are a brave one!" cried Harry.

"Now, look here," cried the man, "don't you go making the same
mistake as the master. I'm not a bit afraid."

"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Phra.

"No, sir," said the man angrily; "not a bit afraid; but I've got a
mother in England, and I don't like to be rash."

"You never are, Mike."

"No, sir, and I won't be. I'm sure every one ought to look before
he leaps when it's over a dangerous place, and—Ah! look out; here
he comes."

There was a yell, too, from Sree and his two men, who dashed
forward together, as all at once the great serpent seemed to dart
suddenly from under a fold of the palm-leaf thatch, make an effort
to glide along the slope from the neighbourhood of those who were
waiting for it, and then failing from the steepness of the incline,
rolled over and over, writhing and twining, towards the edge where
the bamboo supports formed the pillars of the verandah.

"Here, hi! stop!" roared the boys; but it was all in vain, for the
excited Siamese men were deaf to everything save their own
impulses, which prompted them to recover the escaped prize, and
obtain their promised reward.

"Here, I don't want to shoot one of them," cried Phra, stamping in

his disappointment.

"No, no, don't fire," cried Harry, throwing up his gun. "Here, hi,
Mike! Now's your time; go and help. Lay hold of his tail, but don't be
rash."

For the serpent had rapidly reached the edge of the thatch and
fallen into one of the flower beds with a heavy thud which
proclaimed its weight. But the next minute that was a flower bed no
longer.

The serpent began the work of destruction by struggling violently

as it drew itself up into a knot, and the three Siamese finished the
work. They seemed to have not the slightest fear of the great
glistening creature whose scales shone in the sun, but dashed at it
to try and pinion it down to the ground.

There was a furious hissing, mingled with loud shouts, panting,

rustling, and the sound of heavy blows delivered on the earth and
the bamboo flooring of the verandah, as the serpent freed its tail
and lashed about furiously. Then there was a confused knot
composed of reptile and men, rolling over, heaving and straining,
and a gaily coloured sarong was thrown out, to fall a few yards
away.

"Can't you get a shot at it, boys?" cried Mr. Kenyon, as he rushed
out.

"Impossible, father."

"Yes, impossible," repeated Mr. Kenyon.

"What fun!" cried Phra excitedly. "They want to catch him alive.
Look,
Hal, look."

Harry was doing nothing else, and forgetful of all his repugnance
he approached so near the struggling knot that he had a narrow
escape from a heavy flogging blow delivered by the serpent's tail,
one which indented the soft earth with a furrow.

"Ugh! you beast!" cried Harry, kicking at one of the reptile's folds,
which just then offered itself temptingly; but before the boy's foot
could reach it the fold was a yard away and the struggle going on
more fiercely than ever.

It was the fight of three stout, strong men against that elongated,
tapering mass of bone and muscle, with fierce jaws at one end, a
thick, whip-like portion at the other, and the men seemed to be
comparatively helpless, being thrown here and there in spite of the
brave way in which they clung to the writhing form. The end soon
arrived, for the reptile made one tremendous effort to escape,
wrenched itself free enough to throw a couple of folds of its tail
round the thick bamboo pillar which supported the roof, took
advantage of the purchase afforded, and threw off its three
adversaries, to cling there with half its body undulating and
quivering in the air, its head with its eyes glittering fiercely, and its
forked tongue darting in and out, menacing its enemies and
preparing to strike.

The men were up again in an instant, ready to resume the attack,

Sree giving his orders in their native tongue.

"I'll get hold of his neck," he panted, "and you two catch his tail.
Keep him tight to the bamboo, and I'll hold his head close up and
ask the master to tie it to the upright."

"Stand back, all of you!" cried Mr. Kenyon. "Now, boys, get into
the verandah and fire outward. You have a fine chance."

"No, no, Sahib," cried the hunter imploringly. "The snake is nearly
tired out now, and in another minute we shall have caught it fast."

"Nonsense," cried Mr. Kenyon; "it is far too strong for you. You are
all hurt now."

"A few scratches only, Sahib, and we could not bear to see so fine
a snake, which the master would love to have, killed like that."

"Thinking of reward, Sree?" said the merchant, smiling.

Harry whispered something to Phra, who nodded.

"Let them have another try, father," cried the boy. "Phra and I
don't mind missing a shot apiece."
 "Very well," said Mr. Kenyon, and turning to the men—"Take it
alive, then, if you can."

From wearing a dull, heavy look of disappointment the faces of

the Siamese were all smiles once more, and they prepared to rush in
at their enemy on receiving a word from Sree, who now advanced
with one of the bamboo poles he had picked up, and held out the
end toward the quivering, menacing head of the snake.

The latter accepted the challenge directly and struck at the end of
the thick pole, its jaws opening and closing, and the dart of the
drawn-back head being quicker than the eye could follow.

Sree was as quick, though. The slightest movement of the wrist

threw the end of the pole aside, and the serpent missed it three
times running. After that it refused to strike, but drew back its head
and swung it from side to side till it was teased into striking once
more.

This time there was a sharp jar of the bamboo, as the reptile's
teeth closed upon the wood, and the pole was nearly jerked out of
the man's hands. But he held on firmly without displaying the
slightest fear, swaying to and fro as the reptile dragged and gave.

"Better kill it at once, Sree," cried Mr. Kenyon.

"Pray no, Sahib. He is very strong, but we shall tire him out. I am
going to have his neck bound to the great bamboo pillar with a
sarong."

"My good fellow," cried the merchant, "if you do it will drag the
pillar down."
 "And pull half the roof off," said Phra. "Yes, they are very strong,
these big serpents."

"I'm afraid he would, Sahib," said the hunter mildly. "Now, if I had
time I could go into the jungle and get leaves to pound up and give
him, and he would be asleep so that we could put him in the
basket."

"Well, hadn't you better go and fetch some?" cried Harry

mischievously. "Here, Mike, come and hold this bamboo while Sree
goes."

There was a burst of laughter at this, in which the Siamese joined,

for Mike's features were for a moment convulsed with horror; the
next he grasped the fact that a joke was being made at his expense,
and stood shaking his head and pretending to be amused.

"We had better have a shot, my lads," said Mr. Kenyon. "It is too
unmanageable a specimen to keep, and I shall be quite content with
the skin."

"Let them have another try, Mr. Kenyon," said Phra eagerly. "It is
grand to see them fight. Perhaps they will win this time."

"Very well," said Mr. Kenyon, smiling.

"Go and help them, Phra," said Harry, laughing.

"It's so hot," said the young Siamese, "and one would be knocked
about so, and have all one's clothes torn off. Besides, you can't take
hold, only by clinging round it with your arms, and snakes are not
nice. But I will, if you will."
 "All right," said Harry; "only let's have the tail."

Mike looked at the boys in horror, as if he thought they had gone

mad.

But at that moment Sree gave a sign to his two followers, after
finding that the reptile was so much exhausted that he could force
its head in any direction, for it still held on tightly with its teeth.

There was a rush, and the two men seized the creature's tail and
began to unwind it from the pillar by walking round and round.

"Hurrah! they've mastered it," cried Harry, and they drew back as
the last fold was untwined from the pillar, Mike drawing much farther
back than any one else, so as to give plenty of room.

But the tight clasp of the teeth-armed jaws did not relax in the
slightest degree, and the next minute, by the efforts of the three
men, the creature was half dragged, half carried out into the open
garden, limp apparently and completely worn out.

"Why, they'll manage it yet, father," cried Harry. "Here, Mike, bring
that basket out here."

"Yes," cried Mr. Kenyon, "quick!"

Mike looked horrified, but he felt compelled to obey, and, hurrying

into the verandah, he was half-way to the men with the basket,
when he uttered a yell, dropped it, and darted back.

"It was frightened of Mike," said Phra afterwards.

 Frightened or no, all at once when its captors were quite off their
guard, the serpent suddenly brought its tremendous muscles into full
play, contracted itself with a sudden snatch as if about to tie itself in
a knot, and before the men could seize it again, for it was quite free,
it went down the garden at a tremendous rate, making at first for
the river, then turning off towards the jungle.

The men, as they recovered from their astonishment, darted in

pursuit, but stopped short, for Mr. Kenyon's gun rang out with a loud
report, making the serpent start violently, but without checking its
course, and it was half out of sight among the low-growing bushes
when, in rapid succession, Phra and Harry fired, with the effect of
making the reptile draw itself into a knot again, roll, and twine right
back into the garden, give a few convulsive throes, and then slowly
straighten itself out at full length and lie heaving gently, as a slight
quiver ran from head to tail.

The boys cheered, and after reloading in the slow, old-fashioned

way of fifty years ago, went close up to the reptile.

"Shall I give him another shot in the head, Mr. Kenyon?" cried
Phra.

"No, no, my lad; it would be only waste of powder and shot. The
brute is beyond the reach of pain now. Well, Hal, how long do you
make it?" he cried, as that young gentleman finished pacing the
ground close up to the great reptile.

"Five of my steps," said Harry; "and he's as thick round as I can

span—a little thicker. I say, isn't he beautifully marked, father?"

"Splendidly, my boy."
 "But who'd have thought a thing like that could be so strong?"

"They are wonderfully powerful," said Mr. Kenyon. "It is a splendid

specimen, Sree," he continued to that personage, who, with his
companions—all three looking sullen and out of heart—was
rearranging dragged-off or discarded loin-cloths, and looking dirty,
torn, and in one or two places bleeding, from the reptile's teeth.

"Yes, Sahib," said the man sadly; "he would have been a prize,
and I should have been proud, and the Sahib would have been
grateful in the way he always is to his servants."

"Oh, I see," said Harry, who whispered to his father and then to
Phra, both nodding.

"I could not have kept such a monster as that alive, Sree," said
the merchant; "but you men behaved splendidly. You were brave to
a degree, and of course I shall pay you as much or more than I
should have given you if it had been prisoned alive."

"Oh, Sahib!" cried the man, whose face became transformed, his
eyes brightened, and with a look of delight he brought a smile to his
lips.

Turning quickly to his two men, he whispered to them in their own

tongue, and the change was magical. They uttered a shout of joy,
threw themselves on their knees, raised their hands to the sides of
their heads, and shuffled along towards the master.

"That will do, Sree," cried Mr. Kenyon impatiently; "make them get
up.
You know I do not like to be treated like that."
 "Yes, Sahib; I know," said the hunter, and at a word the two men
started up, beaming and grinning at the two lads.

"Brave boys," said Phra, speaking in his own tongue; and,

thrusting his hand in his pocket, he brought out and gave each of
the men one of the silver coins of the country.

The next moment all three were grovelling on the earth before
their young Prince.

He waved his hand and they rose.

"I don't much like it now, Hal," said Phra apologetically; "but it is
the custom, you know. I like to be English, though, when I am with
you."

"Oh, it's all right," said Harry; "but you do improve wonderfully,
lad. You'll be quite an English gentleman some day. I say, father,
give me some silver; I want to do as Phra did."

Mr. Kenyon smiled and handed his son some money, nodding his
satisfaction as he saw him give each of the Siamese a coin, and
check them when they were about to prostrate themselves.

"No, no," he shouted; "be English. Pull your blacking-brushes—

so."

The men grinned, and gave a tug at what would have been their
forelocks if they had not been cropped short.

"Skin the snake very carefully, Sree," said Mr. Kenyon quietly, after
liberally rewarding the men, whose gloom gave place to the
exuberance of satisfaction.
 "Yes, Sahib; there shall not be a tear in the skin," cried the old
hunter eagerly.

"Where shall they do it, father?" said Harry. "It will make such a
mess here."

"Let them drag it down to the landing-stage, my boy, and they can
sluice the bamboo flooring afterwards, and then peg out the skin to
dry on the side. You will stay and see it done?"

"Yes, father," replied the boy, and he turned to Phra.

"Will you stop?"

"Of course. I came to stay," was the reply; "didn't you see that I
sent the boatmen back?"