“Right, sir.”
There was a moment’s silence in the midst of an excitement which was great for so trifling an incident, and then Sir James said sharply, “Heave!”
Down came the stone, and it seemed to the boys as if it occupied seconds of time to pass through the air, and crash down upon the loose rubbish below. A little dust arose, but not sufficient to hide the occupant of the ruined foundations. Then silence again, and the two boys uttered a jeering laugh.
“Out crept a mouse,” said the doctor good-humouredly; “but where is it?”
“He’s in there, sir,” said Dan, “for I just ketched sight of him. But I’m sure he warn’t a mouse.”
“Shall I throw down another stone, sir?” cried Buck, from the top of the wall.
“’Tain’t no good, mate,” shouted Dan. “Let me go and stir him out, sir, with the shovel. He’s down some hole, with his tail hanging out. Mebbe I can give him a chop and make him wriggle out back’ards so as to give you plenty of time to shoot.”
“Would you mind doing it, my lad?” said the doctor.
“Not me, sir, now I knows what it is. You meant it warn’t a stinger, sir, didn’t you?”
“It’s only guess work, my lad, but it’s evidently a large serpent, and those with poisonous fangs are mostly small.”