Scarcely had he spoken when I saw one of the venomous creatures, the sound of whose tail the man had heard, rearing its head not five feet off from Lily.  In another moment it might spring on her.  Fortunately a long thin stick lay close to me, which I seized, and with all my might struck the snake a blow on the head which brought it to the ground, while I cried out to Lily to run to a distance.  Almost in an instant the snake recovered itself, and sounding its rattle as it moved forward, made an attempt to spring at me.  Again I struck it; and Mike coming to my assistance, it was quickly despatched.