“To drink,” said Tom. “No wonder. Oh, I am hot and thirsty! Here, I could knock him over with a stone easily.”
“Let him alone,” said Dick, who had become interested in the snake’s movements. “How would you like to be knocked over with a stone?”
“I’m not a snake,” said Tom, grinning.
“Look!” cried Dick, as the reptile reached the edge of one of the many deep fen pools, whose amber-coloured water was so clear that the vegetation at the bottom could be seen plainly, and, lit up by the sunshine, seemed to be of a deep-golden hue across which every now and then some armoured beetle or tiny fish darted.
To the surprise of both, instead of the snake beginning to drink, it went right into the water, and, swimming easily and well, somewhat after the fashion of an eel, sent the water rippling and gleaming toward the sides.
“Look!” cried Tom. “Oh, what a bait for a pike!” For just then one of these fishes about a foot long rose slowly from where it had lain concealed at the side, and so clear was the water that they could make out its every movement.
“Pooh! a pike could not swallow a snake,” said Dick, as the reptile swam on, and the pike slowly followed as if in doubt.
“Oh, yes, he could!” said Tom, “a bit at a time.”
“Nonsense! Don’t make a noise; let’s watch. The snake’s a yard long, and the pike only a foot. I say, can’t the snake swim!”
It could unmistakably, and as easily as if it were quite at home, gliding along over the surface and sending the water rippling away in rings, while the little pike followed its movements a few inches from the top so quietly that the movements of its fins could hardly be made out.