Queer as it was, nobody had thought to use his pistol, but as Tom spoke Dick pointed his weapon at the snake, that was crawling rapidly over the tree roots towards them. The puff of smoke was followed by a writhing of the reptile, and they saw that it had been hit although not fatally wounded.
"Wait, I'll give him another shot!" cried Sam, who now had his pistol out, and as the head of the snake came up over a tree root, the youngest Rover fired point-blank. His aim was true, and the head of the snake went down, and the body whirled this way and that in its death agonies.
"Is he—he dead?" faltered Tom.
"Next door to it," answered Harold Bird. "That last shot took him directly in the throat. I do not think he will bother us any more."
They saw the body of the snake sink down in the water beneath the upper roots of the tree, and then continued to retreat, making their way to what looked like safer ground. They were now completely turned around, with only the sun to guide them in their course.
"This is no joke," said Dick, gazing around in perplexity. "If we are not careful we'll become hopelessly lost."
"I think somebody had better climb a tree and look around," said Tom.
"I'll go up if somebody will boost me."
The others were willing, and soon the fun-loving youth was climbing a tall tree which stood somewhat apart from the others. He went up in rapid fashion and before long was close to the top.
"Can you see anything?" called up Sam, after what seemed to be a long pause.
"Hello!" cried Tom. "Why, there is the small lake and, yes, the launch is moving from the shore."