brown in color, with lighter stripes, and what variety the young
hunters did not know. They might be poisonous, and the youths did
not care to run any chances.

The snakes seemed to be fearless, and the fact that several were
speedily killed did not daunt them. Whopper cut one in two with
his hatchet and Snap crushed another with his heel. Then, as they
came close to the tent, Shep hit a third with a saucepan and Giant
kicked a fourth into the water. But by this time at least thirty
snakes were in sight, and not knowing what else to do, the young
hunters ran for the rowboat and tumbled into that. One snake went
with Whopper, twined around his foot, but that youth kicked it
loose and sent it squirming into the water.

"Did you ever see the like!" gasped Giant. "Why, the woods must be
full of snakes!"

"We must be close to Lake Narsac," answered Snap. "Don't you
remember what they said about snakes being plentiful?"

"If they are as plentiful as all this I want to go right back,"
declared Whopper firmly. And then he looked up his trouser legs,
to make certain no reptiles had gone above his ankles. The other
boys were also busy, scanning the rowboat, to clear it of possible
visitors.

The craft was tied to the shore but had drifted several feet from
the bank. They had rushed away so quickly that all of their firearms
were in or near the tent, which was but partly raised, one end
flapping idly in the faint breeze that was blowing. The campfire