tree standing on the bank of the river some distance ahead, and
told the Elmers that it marked one of the boundary-lines of
Wakulla. They gazed at it eagerly, as though expecting it to turn
into something different from an ordinary cypress, and all felt
more or less disappointed at not seeing any clearings or signs of
human habitations. It was not until they were directly opposite
the village that they saw its score or so of houses through the
trees and undergrowth that fringed the bank.

As the Bangs place, to which the children gave the name of "Go
Bang"--a name that adhered to it ever afterwards--was across the
river from the village, the lighter was poled over to that side.
There was no wharf, so she was made fast to a little grassy
promontory that Captain Johnson said was once one of the abutments
of a bridge. There was no bridge now, however, and already Mark
saw that his canoe was likely to prove very useful.

The first thing to do after getting ashore and seeing the precious
canoe safely landed was to find the house. As yet they had seen no
trace of it, so heavy was the growth of trees every-where, except
at the abutment, which was built of stone, covered with earth and
a thick sod. From here an old road led away from the river through
the woods, and up it Mr. and Mrs. Elmer and Captain Johnson now
walked, Mark and Ruth having run on ahead. The elders had gone but
a few steps when they heard a loud cry from Ruth, and hurried
forward fearing that the children were in trouble. They met Ruth
running back towards them, screaming, "A snake! a snake! a horrid
big snake!"

"I've got him!" shouted Mark from behind some bushes, and sure