“You scared my snakes!” she cried accusingly. “For that you should be burned by fire and flung into the river for the alligators to feast on your flesh. It was for their sakes, not yours, that I saved your life, wicked one. My snakes must not be frightened, my little pets--ha, ha, ha!” and she went off into such a fit of horrible merriment that Bomba’s heart froze within him.