"Yes, darling, it's a snake!" came the slow, deep voice.
He looked at her, his wide blue eyes uncertain whether to be afraid or not. Some stillness of the sun in her reassured him.
"Snake!" he chirped.
"Yes, darling! Don't touch it, it can bite."
The snake had sunk down, and was reaching away from the coils in which it had been basking asleep, and slowly was easing its long, gold-brown body into the rocks, with slow curves. The boy turned and watched it in silence. Then he said:—
"Snake going!"
"Yes! Let it go. It likes to be alone."
He still watched the slow, easing length as the creature drew itself apathetic out of sight.
"Snake gone back," he said.
"Yes, it's gone back. Come to Mummy a moment."