Fortunately the youth had not lost his wits completely, and as the neck of the reptile came up, he grasped it in his hand with the strongest grip he could command.
"Cut it—cut its head off!" he panted. "Get your pocket-knife!"
At once Captain Jerry dropped his stick and pulled out his jack-knife, a big affair, such as many old sailors carry. One pull opened the main blade, and then old Jerry started in to do as Dick had suggested. It was no easy job and the body of the snake squirmed and whipped in every direction, lashing each on the neck and the cheek. But the head came off at last and then they left the body where it fell, and leaped out of the way of further danger.
"A close shave, lad," said the old sailor, as he peered around for more snakes.
"I—I should sa—say it wa—was," panted Dick. He was deadly pale.
"I—I thought it would strangle me sure!"
"If it had got around your neck, that is what would have happened.
Reckon as how we had better git out o' this neighborhood, eh?"
"Yes, yes, let us go at once," and Dick started off once more.
After that both were very careful where they stepped and kept their eyes wide open for any new danger which might arise. So they went on until they came in sight of the seashore.
"We had better say nothing about the snake," said the eldest Rover.
"It will only scare the girls to death."
"No, lad, you are wrong. We must warn them of danger. Otherwise they may run into it headlong."