“It’s a water snake!” yelled Tom.
“Oh my! safe me, somepody!” screamed Hans, and fell back in fright and came close to falling overboard. “Cut der line! Ton’t let him pite me!”
“It’s no snake!” said Sam, quickly. “But what is it?”
“I’ll soon know,” answered Dick, and pulled in on the line a little more. Then the object came alongside the boat and the boys set up a shout.
“A piece of old rope!”
“With a knot for a snake’s head!”
“And a rock at the other end. This must have been used by somebody for an anchor.”
“That’s it!”
“Say, vos you sure dot ain’t no vater snake?” asked Hans, timidly. He had crawled to the bow of the boat, as far from the line as possible.
“See for yourself, Hans,” answered Dick.