"If Hank were only back," moaned Bob.
"He will be back in a few minutes," whispered George. "And when we hear him coming we must warn him. He might come in and find himself right on top of the snake."
The next few minutes seemed like so many ages to the boys. Then they heard Hank coming. He was whistling, but the whistle suddenly stopped when he saw that there was no light in the bunk-house. At the same moment the boys raised their voices in a shrill yell of warning.
"Don't open the door, Hank!" shouted George. "The snake has got out of the box."
Hank gave a startled exclamation, and if they could have seen his face they would have seen that it had become the color of chalk.
"Are any uv you boys hurt?" he queried, in a voice that was hoarse and unnatural.
"No," answered George. "We're all safe in the upper bunks. The snake is somewhere on the floor."
Hank's heart gave a great bound of relief.
"Stay jest where you are till I kin git a flashlight," he commanded. "I've got one down at the corral."
There was no need of the injunction to stay just where they were. It would have taken an earthquake to jar them from their lofty perches.