People always think the hoop snake is a joke, a campfire yarn told to scare tourists. I thought the same, right up until the night I swear I saw one with my own eyes. It was one of those still, heavy evenings in the bush when the air feels thick and the sky glows orange after the sun drops behind the ridge. The only sound was the crackle of our campfire while Uncle Ray stirred the billy and swapped stories. He leaned in and told us to keep our eyes open. “This is hoop snake country,” he said. “T