“Yes, I see it now. Wait till I change the cartridge for bigger shot.”
“Yes; use your biggest for him,” whispered Frank; and Ned looked on wonderingly, refraining from asking questions, for he was met by an imperious “Hush!”
“I can’t see what he means, I suppose,” thought Ned; and he watched eagerly now as Murray suddenly took aim and fired.
Then for a few moments there was a violent rustling and breaking of twigs, and something heavy fell with a great splash beyond the screen of leaves formed by the lowermost drooping branches.
“You hit him!” cried Frank, excitedly, and he gave an order to the men, who rowed in under the drooping boughs.
“Now quick, the other barrel!” cried the lad. “See him? Too late. He’s gone!”
“I couldn’t get a good sight of him,” said Murray.
“But what was it?”
“A great serpent. He glided out of the river in amongst those bushes.”
“Could we follow if the boat were rowed right in?”