It seemed as if the snake, instead of being attracted by the garlic, was trying to get as far away from it as possible. The tail was beginning to go down again. Hal grabbed it and shouted to the men to come and help. They took hold and began to pull. But a snake knows very well what to do in a case like that. It braces itself against the walls of the hole. The muscles swell and turn rigid, locking the body firmly in place. But if the snake could play tricks, Hal could do the same. He knew the snake would try to go deeper and escape. To do so, it must release its grip on the sides of the hole. Don’t keep up a steady pull,’ Hal said. ‘Now, let up a bit.’ The men stopped pulling. Immediately the python loosened its hold and started down. ‘Now, pull!’ Hal shouted. The men heaved back and the snake instead of going forward as planned, lost ten or twelve inches. Once more it gripped the sides and could be pulled no farther. Again Hal said, ‘Let up.’ The men stopped pulling. The snake relaxed its hold and started down.
