“Look out! Big snake!”
“I know it,” panted Oliver. “Woke up—on my chest.”
“Here, get a gun, someone,” cried Panton; “the brute must be in the companion-way in ambush.”
But no one stirred.
“I say, Lane, can’t you reach a gun without getting out of bed?” said Panton, in a piteous tone of voice. “They’re over on your side.”
“Yes; as soon as I can get my breath,” replied Oliver. “I’m rather giddy and stupid yet.”
“I don’t know about giddy,” grumbled Drew.
“Then you think I am the other thing?” said Oliver, rather huskily. “All right; but if you had had that great brute upon your chest this last hour, you would be stupid.”
“Oh, I beg your pardon, old fellow!” cried Drew hastily. “I really didn’t know. But, I say, what is going on upon deck?”
The answer came at once from Mr Rimmer, who hurried into the cabin.