"Three of them!" roared Bob. "Mark, we've gotten into a regular nest of them!"
"Let us get out!"
The two lads lost no time in retreating. Most of the snakes remained where they were, but one big fellow glided after them, hissing viciously.
"Look out, he's after us, Bob!"
"Ain't a rattler, I reckon—leastwise, I don't hear any rattle."
"But he is bad enough!"
"I'll shoot him!" cried the former sailor boy, and raising his shotgun, he blazed away at the reptile, hitting it in the neck. At once the snake whipped around madly, and the long, rubbery body wound itself around poor Bob's legs.
"Help me! Save me!" screamed Bob, and tried to kick himself loose, but without avail.
Mark saw his chum's extreme peril, and rushed forward with his own gun. He pressed the barrel between Bob's legs and up against the body of the reptile, and pulled the trigger.
The shot at such close range had its full effect and the body of the snake was literally ripped to pieces by the heavy shot. The reptile fell to the ground with a quiver, and Bob lost no time in starting to run again.