Shanter shook his head again.
“Here, I’ll soon shoot it, aunt,” said Norman; but Aunt Georgie held his arm tightly.
“No, sir, I shall not let you go.—Rifle, Tim, I forbid you to stir.—Shanter, do as I tell you,” she continued, with a stamp of her foot. “Go and kill that horrible snake directly, or not one bit of damper do you ever get again from me.”
“Big white Mary gib Shanter plenty damper.”
“Yes; and will again. You are a big, strong man, and know how to kill snakes. Go and kill that one directly.”
Shanter shook his head.
“Why, you are not afraid, sir?”
“No. Baal ’fraid snake,” said Shanter in a puzzled way, as he looked searchingly from one to the other.
“Then go and do as I say.”
“He’s afraid of it,” said Norman. “I don’t like them, aunt, but I’ll go and shoot it.”