“There he is!” he cried. “There he goes under those boards!”
“What are you yelling about?” came from Andy. He and the lanky sailor were still resting on the top of the cabin.
“It’s a big snake,” answered Jack. “He got loose and just came up a runway. There are a whole lot of them down below, in a big wire cage.”
“If we only had guns we could take a shot at that snake!” exclaimed Randy. “I’m sure we could soon blow him to pieces.”
“I’m going to take a shot of another kind!” exclaimed Fred, and, aiming as carefully as he could, [he threw the hatchet with all the force he could command].
It was a light and sharp affair, and as the bright steel circled through the air the boys saw the snake twist around and for a moment its head came into view. Then the circling hatchet descended, cutting the snake deeply in the center of its body.
“You struck him, Fred!” exclaimed Randy, in delight.
“Yes, but he isn’t dead,” announced Jack, quickly.
“Look out! He may come for you!” came from Andy, who could see the reptile from where he was resting. And now in his excitement he stood up, and Ira Small did likewise.