COBRA

Whenever my mind travels over the past events in my life,one incident stands out prominently to remind me of the narrow escape I once had from almost certain death.

In the rubber estates of my village,there are many snakes of which the cobra is the most dangerous and venomous.This snake has a preference for cool places along the numerous streams found in the estates,where it relaxes,especially in the afternoon.Therefore,those who fish from these streams have to be on the look out for cobras.All this I diidn’t know until I came face to face with a cobra while fishing with my brother.

My brother and I were spending our free time on Sundays in an estate that was not very far from my house.Wherever the water was shallow,we got down into the streams and searched for holes where fish usually like to shelter.When we found one,we put our hands in an often caught some fish.Fishing in this way had its moments of excitement,for at times we also caught some water-snakes,which we found to be harmless.Then one day,I came so close to death that I made up my mind never to catch fish again in that way.

A cobra,about six feet long,was lying along the water’s edge of one side of the stream in which we were fishing.Its tail was in the water,but it was concealed by the reeds and grasses along that stream.As I put my hand into the water,my searching fingers touched something tender.Thinking that it was the fish,I gripped it and tried to bring it out of the water.But it resisted violently.I discovered that it was a cobra.I relaxed my grip and rushed for safety.My brother,who was a few yards away,was too surprised to speak,but he soon saw the cobra which was rushing towards him with its hood fully opened.I picked up stick hurriedly and threw it at the cobra.Surprisingly,the cobra turned towards me and took to my heels.My brother then picked up a stick and ran after the cobra and managed to kill it at that time when I was almost exhausted.

If  my brother had been a little late,I might have been killed by the cobra.That was indeed a very narrow escape,an escape I shall never forget.Since then,I  haven’t joined in the relaxation which is dangerous and risked.