"Oh, yes. And he is very thankful for all you Rovers did for him that Winter," answered the girl, referring to the happenings which have been related in detail in "The Rover Boys on Snowshoe Island."
"Here is a different kind of fern," announced Martha, a minute later.
"Let me get it for you!" cried Gif, pressing forward to assist her.
"It's right down there between those big rocks, Gif. Be careful that you don't push one of the stones over on your fingers."
"Don't ruin the whole island getting up one fern, Gif!" exclaimed Andy, as the athletic student pushed away a couple of rocks which prevented his getting at the fern.
There was another rock in the way—one that rested partly over the roots of the fern, which looked like an unusually healthy plant. Gif tugged at this rock and Fred bent forward to assist him. Then, all of a sudden, the rock came out from the split in which it lay, and both cadets slipped and fell on their backs.
"Oh, do be careful! You'll have one of those rocks on your toes, sure!" cried Ruth.
She had scarcely spoken when there came a scream from May Powell and Alice Strobell.
"A snake! A snake!"
"He's coming for us!"