Frank at once whipped out his penknife, and seizing Jimmy's hand, he made a deep cross cut over the bites, and as the blood began to flow, he put the finger to his mouth and tried to suck the poison out with all the force of his strong young lungs, only just waiting to say to Dick—
"Go at once to the village and get a bottle of olive-oil at the chemist's, and come back to the cottage at the edge of the wood. Be as quick as you can."
Dick burst out of the wood and set off for the village, which was a mile away as the crow flies. As straight as an arrow and as fleet as a deer, Dick sped on his friendly errand, and in six minutes he had reached the chemist's. The chemist gave him what he asked for, saying, that if rubbed in before the fire it was the best remedy.
"Are snake-bites fatal?" said Dick.
"No, sir, not in England, unless the person bitten is very delicate; but they are very painful, and I should advise you to be quick back."
Viper.
Dick was off again at the top of his speed, and reached the cottage a quarter of an hour after he had left Frank and Jimmy.
"Well done, Dick!" said Frank; "but go outside and face the wind a bit. You are dead beat."