It was now that Dale showed his nerve. Like a flash he pulled out his jackknife and opened the blade. Then he bent down and slashed away quickly at the snake, ripping open the reptile’s back. Then he struck the snake in the head.
“That’s it—give it to him!” gasped Jack, and Dale continued to use his knife. The girls screamed loudly and wrung their hands. Then the snake, cut in two, dropped down on the rocks. Andy kicked the severed parts into the water and they sank from sight. Pepper kicked the other snake into the water also.
“Oh, dear, this is terrible!” moaned Flossie.
“I wish we were back to papa and mamma,” sighed Laura. Both girls looked as if they were ready to faint.
“Don’t get scared,” said Pepper. “They are both dead.”
“But there may be others,” said Flossie. She turned to Jack. “Did the snake bite you?”
“No, he didn’t get a chance, thanks to Dale,” answered the young major, with a grateful glance at his chum.
“Shall we try to go back?” asked Laura.
“Wait until we make sure that the way is clear,” said Pepper, who had not forgotten about the third snake.
He went back with caution and made an inspection. The third snake was nowhere in sight, and what had become of it he could not tell.