"All right, I'll do it," said Billy. "Jest turn the lamp down a little, Harry."
"Me hands are a bit unsteady," said Harry, quickly. "We'll l'ave the light be as ut is, Billy."
"It ought'a be dark," protested Billy, "but I'll try it anyway." He lifted the rabbit foot to his face and breathed some words upon it. Then in measured tones he recited:
"Hokey-pokey Bamboo Brake—
Go an' gather in a snake—'
Slowly Billy lowered the charm and looked at Harry. The old man sat, puffing his short pipe, a derisive grin on his unshaven lips.
"It's failed ye have, as I knowed ye wud," he chuckled. "Ye best be lavin' now, both av ye, wid yer pranks."
"But," said Billy quickly, "the charm did work. It brought the snake, jest as I said it would."
"Brought ut? Where is ut, thin?" Harry sat up straight, his little eyes flashing in fright.
"It's under the stove. See it?"
Harry bent and peered beneath the stove. "Be the scales av the divil!" he shivered, "is ut a big, mottled snake I see, or have I got what always I feared I might get some day. Is ut the D.T.'s I've got, I wonder? How come the reptile here, anyhow, byes?"