“The folks who hold picnics here ought to know about them,” said Jack.
“Well, snakes are to be found almost anywhere where there are rocks,” answered Rossmore Ford. “Come, let us go back to where we left our things. My wife and I were just dozing away with our backs to a tree when we heard the screams. We could not locate them at first and were much worried.”
Knowing that the girls would not care to climb the rocks after such a scare, the cadets walked back to the camping place with the Fords.
“I am glad you knifed that snake, Dale,” said Jack on the way. “It was a brave thing to do.”
“Oh, it wasn’t much,” was the modest reply. “I was once in a camp in the mountains and saw an old hunter do it.”
The party had hardly reached the spot where the campfire had been built when the man who ran the launch appeared.
“Where did you go?” he asked hurriedly of Mr. Ford. “I have been looking all over for you.”
“What do you want, Mr. Fales?”
“I came to see you about the launch. She is gone!”
“Gone!” echoed Rossmore Ford, while the cadets listened with interest.