But the python was not nearly dead yet, and he started to squirm off into the cane. Baderoon was on him like a flash, and, grabbing the tail, he snapped him against the tree again. Nicky, prancing down from the veranda, dashed in and fumbled at the writhing coils, to try it himself; but with a quick twist the powerful tail fastened itself around his ankle, and a huge, thick loop of the snake rose and curled itself tight around his waist. The boy gasped, crushed breathless, and it looked serious for a time as Dwight and the curator rushed down to the rescue, but suddenly there was a bright flash of steel, and Sadok’s parang met the next loop coming down over the boy’s head and clove it nearly in two. “Me sorry, Orang-kaya,” said Sadok, as the snake collapsed and Nicky squirmed free of the aimless coils. “Me spoil’m specimen?” “You did just right, Sadok!” said the curator, heartily. “He could have crushed Nicky to death, even in his last throes--” “Him plenty debbil-debbil!” interrupted Baderoon, coming up from freeing Nicky. “White boy nebber, _nebber_ let snake-fellah catch’m first! Mus’ run with him-a tailie--fast!” he explained, earnestly. “Well,” said the curator, after the Fat One had been guyed to everybody’s satisfaction, “le’s go in for a look-see. Perhaps some more interesting creatures are camping out in our bungalow!” They explored every nook and cranny of the hut, dislodging a few kangaroo mice, which were captured and added to the collections after hilarious chases, but no larger visitors were found, and no poisonous snakes, rare throughout the archipelago, were discovered. The curator set the lamp on a table out on the veranda, after supper, and they sat around it, collecting the rare moths and beetles attracted by its light. As a nightcap, the brilliant and wonderful clear-winged moth came fluttering in, and the curator snatched at it avidly with his net. “_Cocytia d’urviller!_” he gasped, taking the gorgeous prize from the net. “Boys, we are in luck! There are not five of these in all the museums of America! I guess that will be about all for to-night!” The party turned in, and long before dawn were awakened by the native hunter at the veranda steps. Gulping some hot coffee and downing a rasher of bacon and eggs, they slung on their knapsacks, grabbed their guns, and followed him to the boat for a trip to the mainland in the mighty jungles of Aru, where dwelt the great bird of paradise. II INTO THE JUNGLE