“A snake! One of those big snakes!” was the reply. “He’s at the top of the runway! There he goes out on deck!”
CHAPTER XVIII
FRED’S LUCKY THROW
The three Rovers were alarmed, and with good reason. Such a snake at liberty on the deck of the water-logged steam yacht would be a constant source of danger.
“Are you positive you saw him, Randy?” questioned Jack.
“Positive!” was the ready reply. “Gee, but he was a big one, too!”
“Maybe we’d better warn the others,” broke in Fred. “That snake may go right after Andy or Small if they happen to be down on the deck.”
“I’m going out, snake or no snake!” came from the young major.
“Wait! Let’s get those hatchets and axes we saw back there,” cried Fred, and ran back, to return a minute later with two axes and a fair-sized hatchet.
Carrying these weapons ready for use, the three Rover boys mounted the runway cautiously. At first they saw nothing on the deck. Then Fred pointed excitedly to the wreckage at the bow.