In this story, the narrator returns home to find his friend, Harry Pope, claiming

that a krait, a deadly snake, is lying on his stomach. Harry insists that the snake
is under the sheet and asks the narrator to be cautious. The narrator contacts
Dr. Ganderbai, who arrives promptly. Initially, Ganderbai administers krait serum
intravenously to Harry. Later, he uses chloroform to anesthetize the supposed
snake.

As they carefully draw back the sheet, it is revealed that there was no snake on
Harry's stomach. The tension escalates when Harry accuses Ganderbai of calling
him a liar. Ganderbai leaves without responding to the insults hurled by Harry.
The story ends with the narrator acknowledging that Harry needs a break or a
holiday, attributing the hallucination to stress.

In this suspenseful tale, the narrator finds himself caught in a perplexing

situation when his friend, Harry Pope, claims that a deadly krait snake is lying on
his stomach. Filled with concern, the narrator reaches out to Dr. Ganderbai, a
trusted medical professional, seeking his expertise.

Dr. Ganderbai arrives swiftly and begins treating Harry with krait serum, hoping
to counter the venom's effects. However, as the story unfolds, it becomes
apparent that the snake may only exist in Harry's mind. To confirm their
suspicions, the trio proceeds cautiously, using chloroform to sedate the
supposed snake.

With bated breath, they slowly peel back the sheet, only to find that there is no
snake present. The tension in the room reaches its peak when Harry accuses Dr.
Ganderbai of implying that he is a liar. In a surprising turn of events, Dr.
Ganderbai chooses to remain silent, leaving Harry to stew in his anger.

The story concludes with the narrator recognizing that Harry desperately needs
a respite from his stressful life. The hallucination of the krait snake is seen as a
result of overwhelming pressure and strain. Understanding the importance of
rest and rejuvenation, the narrator suggests that Harry take a break or go on a
holiday, offering a ray of hope for his troubled friend.