He leapt toward his owner, growled, and in a flash sank his teeth into the snake’s body. Startled, the snake hissed and fell to the floor, writhing. The dog didn’t let go — with a strong jerk, he flung it to the edge of the yard, and with a faint rustle, it disappeared back into the bushes.

The man woke up to the loud barking and the sudden jolt of the chair, looking around in confusion, not understanding what had happened. The dog stood beside him, panting, ears flattened, eyes alert.