about midday
The effect of my challenge was magical . The jealous medicine-man , boldly and openly challenged before the whole tribe , had no time to make up an evasive reply , and he accepted then and there . Urgent messages were despatched , by the fun-loving blacks , to all the tribes , so that we were pretty sure of a large and attentive audience . It was about midday when the ridge round the depression was crowded with expectant blacks , every one of whom dearly loved a contest , or competition , of whatever kind . I lost no time -- for in love or war shilly-shallying is unknown among the blacks -- but boldly leaped down into the hollow armed only with a reed whistle , which I had made for myself solely with the view of enticing the snakes from their holes . I cast a triumphant glance at my impassive rival , who , up to this moment , had not the faintest idea what the proposed ordeal was . I commenced to play as lively a tune as the limited number of notes in the whistle would allow , and before I had been playing many minutes the snakes came gliding out , swinging their heads backwards and forwards and from side to side as though they were under a spell .