“You never get your feet off the earth, do you, Dan?” laughed Walter, as he turned to do as he was bidden.
“I’ve never seen a live man yet that could do that or lift himself by the straps of the boots he was wearing. Hurry up with that table!”
Walter took the table, which had been folded and stored in the skiff, and placed it in the shade of a great tree near the fireplace. Two small camp-chairs were next taken from the boat and then the basket, in which a small tablecloth, some napkins, and some knives and forks had been arranged, was brought, and its contents spread upon the little table.
“Hurry up, Walter!” called Dan laughingly, as he faced his friend. “Dinner is almost ready. I get a cloud of smoke in my eyes every little while when the wind veers. That drives me away from the fire, so I lose time. You might get that basket under the stern seat—no, I left it in the buggy. It’s the one that has the boiled eggs, the bread, pie, cake, and etceteras in it. Bring it on if you want to rush things a bit.”
“I’ll have it here in a minute!” called Walter, as he ran swiftly toward the shaded place where the buggy had been left. Near the buggy was old Prince, the horse which the boys had driven that morning. Walter could see the black flanks of the old horse among the trees and as he came nearer he was startled when Prince suddenly snorted as if he were in great fear and began to pull upon the strap as if he were doing his utmost to get away.
“Whoa, old fellow!” called Walter. “What’s the trouble now? The flies biting you? Great——” he began as he came nearer the snorting animal and then abruptly stopped at the startling sight he saw. Crawling lazily over the grass toward the pond, which was only a few yards distant, Walter beheld a snake larger than any he had ever seen out of captivity. As he stopped the great snake also stopped, and lifting its head gazed at the intruder, darting its forked tongue as if it were minded to drive its enemy from the place.
“Hi, Dan! Come over here! Come as fast as you can run! Bring the axe!” called Walter in his excitement. “Come on! Come on!”
Alarmed by the sharp call, Dan instantly dropped the cooking utensils in his hands and seizing the axe ran swiftly toward the spot where his friend was standing. Not a word did he speak until he stood by Walter’s side and then in a whisper he asked, “What’s wrong?”
“The biggest snake you ever saw has just crawled into the weeds down there on the shore!” said Walter excitedly, pointing as he spoke to the huge bed of reeds near the water. “It was as big around as an oar! It wasn’t a foot less than seven feet long! Old Prince was scared out of his——”
Dan waited to hear no more, but grasping his axe, he ran swiftly toward the rushes where Walter had said the great reptile had crawled.