The long, sinuous horrid body, in its immense proportions, was truly a terrifying thing to look at. For a moment our adventurers stood looking at it with dismay. It had extended itself across the street, no doubt just after the Steam Man had passed else the Man would have cut it to pieces. “Glory fo’ goodness!” cried Pomp, ‪“whatebber will dis yer chile do? Ugh! I nebber did like snakes!” ‪“Nor I, Pomp!” cried Tony Buckden, with a shiver. ‪“What shall we do about it, Frank?” “Discretion is valor’s better part,” said Frank. ‪“We will not try to cut our way through the foe this time, but rather go around it.” ‪“Good!” cried Tony. ‪“But can we do it?” The avenue was fully one hundred feet wide here. It seemed easy enough to go the other side of the line of palms, and the explorers made a move to do so. But they had barely reached the other side of the avenue when a thrilling thing occurred. The space between the palms and the buildings was hardly ten feet. Suddenly, as they were passing through this narrow space, there was a rustling sound above, and a long, sinuous body shot down from a window of one of the buildings. The next moment Pomp was encircled by the folds of a huge anaconda. A startled yell went up from the astonished darky. The others recoiled in amazement and horror. Then, before any of them had time to act, Pomp was drawn up like a puppet and through the window above. He went out of sight like a flash. But a tremendous uproar was heard in the building, and the pounding and thumping of heavy bodies was heard. Pomp’s cries for help were agonizing. For a few moments our adventurers were so overcome with horror that they hardly knew how to act or what to say. ‪“My God!” cried Frank Reade, Jr., ‪“Pomp is being killed. Why do we stand here inactive? We must save him!” ‪“Right!” cried Tony Buckden. ‪“Come on, friends! Lively, now!” No second bidding was needed. Into the building they rushed. Some long stairs were encountered. Up these they sprung. This brought them to a landing above, and into a large chamber. Up through this and through the fallen roof there grew a high palm tree. Partly wound around the trunk of this were a part of the snake’s coils. The other part of the snake’s body was wound about Pomp, and the darky was seen to be unconscious, and for aught his agonized friends knew, dead. The monster anaconda’s head was erect, and its forked tongue was darting from its mouth as it faced the new-comers angrily. Frank Reade, Jr., saw that if Pomp was to be saved, quick work must be made. With a long drawn breath the young inventor sprang forward, crying: ‪“Aim at his head, friends. Work quickly, for I fear Pomp is dead.” But no further adjuration was needed. The others did work quickly. Barney raised his rifle and took aim at the monster’s head. It was an uncertain aim, as the snake’s head kept gyrating and moving about in a lively manner.