The process was tedious--“one swallow makes a summer”--but it gradually became apparent, from the fate of the head, that the whole body might eventually be “lost in the Serpentine.” The Reptile, indeed, made ready for the rest of the interment by an operation rather horrible. On a sudden, the living cable was observed, as a sailor would say, to haul in her slack, and with a squeeze evincing tremendous muscular power, she reduced the whole body into a compass that would follow the head with perfect ease. It was like a regular smash in business:--the poor rabbit was completely broken--and the wily winder-up of his affairs recommenced paying herself in full. It was a sorry sight and sickening. As for the Stout Gentleman, he could not control his agitation. His eyes rolled and watered; his jaws constantly yawned like a panther’s; and his hands with a convulsive movement were clasped every now and then on his stomach;--but when the whole rabbit was smothered in snake, he could restrain himself no longer, and rushed out of the menagerie as if he really expected to be called upon to fulfil his rash engagement. Anxious to ascertain the true nature of the impulse, I hurried in pursuit of him, and after a short but sharp chase, I saw him dash into the British Hotel, and overheard his familiar voice--the same that had promised to swallow both Snake and Snack--bellowing out, guttural with hunger--“Here!--waiter!--Quick!--Rabbits in onions for two!” [Illustration: THE GREAT SEA SERPENT DISCOVERED FROM THE MAST-HEAD.] A STORM AT HASTINGS AND THE LITTLE UNKNOWN. ’TWAS August--Hastings every day was filling-- Hastings, that “greenest spot on memory’s waste!” With crowds of idlers willing or unwilling To be bedipped--be noticed--or be braced, And all things rose a penny in a shilling. Meanwhile, from window and from door, in haste “Accommodation bills” kept coming down, Gladding “the world of letters” in that town. Each day pour’d in new coach-fulls of new cits, Flying from London smoke and dust annoying, Unmarried Misses hoping to make hits, And new-wed couples fresh from Tunbridge toying. Lacemen and placemen, ministers and wits, And Quakers of both sexes, much enjoying A morning’s reading by the ocean’s rim, That sect delighting in the sea’s broad brim. [Illustration: AN ABRIDGMENT OF ALL THAT IS PLEASANT IN MAN.] And lo! amongst all these appear’d a creature, So small, he almost might a twin have been, With Miss Crachami--dwarfish quite in stature, Yet well proportion’d--neither fat nor lean, His face of marvellously pleasant feature. So short and sweet a man was never seen-- All thought him charming at the first beginning-- Alas, ere long they found him far too winning!