"Say, I ton't vonts me no snakes in mine!" ejaculated Hans, trying to retreat.
All the boys gazed at the object ahead with interest. Then Tom broke off a stick near him and threw it at the object. The latter did not budge.
"Must be a tree limb," said Tom. "But it looked enough like a snake to frighten anybody."
"I am not sure yet," answered Harold Bird. "You must remember that some of our southern snakes are very sluggish and only move when they are hungry or harassed."
"We'll give the limb, or whatever it is, a wide berth," said Sam.
They started to move to one side. But Tom was curious, and chancing to see a stone among some bushes, hurled it at the object, hitting it directly in the center.
Up came an ugly-looking head, the object whipped around swiftly, and the next instant the boys found themselves confronted by a swamp snake all of six feet long and as thick as a man's wrist!
"Mine cracious!" burst from Hans' lips. "It vos a snake annahow! Look out! he vill eat us up alife!"
"We must get out of here!" cried Sam. "Oh, Tom, why didn't you leave it alone?"
"I didn't really think it was a snake," answered the fun-loving Rover.
"Somebody shoot it!"