The supper over, the boys found it growing late. They gathered some wood and heaped it upon the fire in such a way that it might burn the greater part of the night, and then sought to retire.
“We want to be up early in the morning,” remarked Jack, who now felt quite recovered. “It looks a little like snow, and we want to strike a permanent camp before it lets down too heavily.”
“Well, I’m ready to go to sleep,” returned Boxy. “And I won’t even ask Pickles to sing a lullaby for me.”
One after another the boys crawled into the cave-like sleeping place, and selected their various corners. Andy brought in a pine knot, all ablaze from the fire, and held it aloft so that they might see if all was right.
A second later Pickles gave a yell, which was followed by a cry of fright from every one of the others. Then a hasty scramble was made for the outside, the boys fairly tumbling over each other in their efforts to escape.
And small wonder, for the interior of the cave-hut was alive with snakes!
CHAPTER XIV.
A FIGHT WITH REPTILES.
“Snakes!” yelled Pickles. “Fo’ de land sakes, let dis chile git out!”
“Snakes!” echoed each of the others. “We can’t stay in here!”
And in less than half a minute every one was outside and several yards away from the entrance to the temporary camp.