"We're in a pickle," groaned Dick, as he drew his own pistol. Bang! went the weapon, and the bullet clipped the reptile's tail.
The wound enraged the serpent, and it slashed right and left with pain. Then it raised its head once more and darted straight for Dick.
Its eyes blazed like twin diamonds, and it may truthfully be said that for a moment the owner of the Dashaway was dazed.
But now a most unexpected thing happened.
Dash had wandered off in the brush and been forgotten.
He leaped into view with a bound and coming up behind the snake caught it in the neck with his strong teeth.
There was a grating sound, and the head of the snake twisted painfully and then dropped limply.
"Good for Dash!" cried Don, and rushing up, he fired his pistol at the snake's body, literally cutting it in half.
Then Dash dropped the quivering body, and to settle matters, Robert Menden crushed the head with a sharp stone.
It was several minutes before anybody recovered his former composure.