“Come back here, Dan!” called Walter, shouting to his friend. “You’ll get bitten or squeezed! That thing is a terror! Come back here!”
But Dan did not heed the call of his excited companion. Parting the tall rushes, he stepped boldly into the midst of them and soon was concealed from Walter’s sight. Hesitating a moment, the latter looked about him for a weapon of some kind, and as none could be seen he hastily seized the whip in the buggy and then ran swiftly to the aid of his friend, whose danger he was convinced was great. Cautiously approaching the rushes, he called, “Where are you, Dan? I’m here to help! Where are you?”
No reply came from the marsh, though Walter was convinced that he could trace his friend’s way by the movements of the tall rushes. Waiting a moment anxiously, he called again: “Where are you, Dan? Don’t take any chances! Come back here and let the snake do as he pleases! Come on, Dan! Come on!”
“Go back and look after the dinner!” came a low call from the midst of the weeds.
“I’m not going to leave you here alone!” retorted Walter.
“If you want anything to eat go back and look after the fire. I don’t want any help.”
“Have you seen anything of the snake?”
No reply was made to the query and after delaying a brief time Walter walked slowly back to the place where the fire was burning. He repeatedly assured himself that he was not “nervous,” but several times he was startled and stopped abruptly until he was able to decide whether a long dead branch in his pathway was really what it appeared to be. However, without any serious mishap he arrived at the place he was seeking and instantly discovered that Dan’s warning was most timely, for the fire had burned low and the frying-pan had tipped so that one of the perch had fallen into the ashes. Quickly righting the pan, he at once placed fresh wood upon the fire and soon had everything restored to its proper place. As he turned to look toward the marsh he saw his friend approaching, and it was manifest that he had not secured the snake.
“What’s the trouble, Dan? Where’s the snake?” inquired Walter.
“Got away,” answered his friend.