“Possibly,” said the doctor, laughing. “You want to venture?”
“Yes, father.”
“Very well, go. But take a good stick with you—say such a piece of sapling as Griggs carried, only much shorter, and use it well as you go.”
Chris nodded, and without asking the American, hurried off to cut such a piece as he required, ending by trimming it well and leaving quite a small bush-like tuft of green at the end.
“You mean to go, then?” said Ned quietly.
“Yes. Will you come with me?”
“No,” said Ned, wincing. “I hate snakes.”
“Not half so much as I do.”
“Yes, I will. I’ll come too.”
“Like to go first?” asked Chris mischievously.