“Here, gentlemen, for goodness’ sake come on deck!” he cried, as he snatched down a double gun. “We’ve got a visitor there.”
“Yes, I know—a great serpent,” said Oliver.
“Eh!—how did you know?” cried the mate, as he examined the piece to see if it was loaded.
“Lane has had it in bed with him.”
“What! That’s nice! Look sharp, gentlemen; bring your guns and I can promise you some nice shooting, though it’s rather dark. The brute has taken possession of the deck, and we’ve been hitting at it with hand-spikes, but every crack only made him wag his tail and hiss at us. There; hark at them; they must have got him into a corner.”
For the shouts and the sound of blows came again, louder than ever.
“There, I’m off; but make haste; and mind how you shoot, for it’s rather dark—only starlight.”
The young men hurriedly slipped on their trousers, and each took a double gun and proceeded to load.
“Swan shot?” suggested Oliver. “It’s a huge brute.”
“Never fired at a snake in my life,” said Panton; “but I owe this brute something for scaring me. Ready?”