“We’re like Columbus discovering America,” observed Cricket, cheerfully. “The farther we go, the more it isn’t there. Let’s keep straight on. Papa says that the woods aren’t but two miles across, so we will certainly get out that way.”
“If once we strike that West Road,” said Harry, “I know where to go then.”
“Here are some blackberries!” cried Ray, who was in advance.
They had come to another open spot, and sure enough, there were some straggling blackberry vines.
“Let’s pick these, anyway,” said Edna, “in case we don’t find any more.”
The children hooted at this idea, but nevertheless, they fell to work. The berries were hard and dry and half-ripe, but they were—or ought to have been—blackberries. Their fingers flew, and the hard little berries rolled into their tin pails with a lively clatter.
“Ow! ow! ow!” suddenly came in squeals of terror from one of the girls. “Here’s a snake! a big black snake, and he is eating a little bird!”
The children rushed to the spot. There, among some tall weeds, lay a long, slender, whip-like object, black and shining, with raised head. In its open mouth was a poor little, struggling, half-fledged bird, already partially swallowed. Above it, the parent birds fluttered and screamed in agony, sweeping around in short, swift circles.
The children stood, at first, in fascinated horror. The poor little birdie slowly disappeared in the yawning mouth, and the children could see the muscles of the black body work, as the whole undigested mass slipped slowly down. Then the snake made queer, darting movements with its head, and this broke the spell for the frightened children. A wild stampede instantly followed, as they fled, screaming and shrieking. The few berries, the rest of the lunch, the napkins and the pail-covers flew in every direction, as the children sped wildly on, thinking that the snake was in full pursuit. Nor did they stop until Cricket, who, on her swift feet, led the band, went, head over heels, over a projecting root, and found herself sitting on the bank of the ever-present Kayuna.
Then they all brought up, panting and breathless, and rather shamefaced.