“I guess he hypnotized me,” answered Jule. “You see, fellows, I was walking along right here when I heard a hiss and a sliding motion in the tree, the one straight ahead. I looked up quick, of course, and there was that great flat, triangular head swinging back and forth before my eyes.”
“Why didn’t you duck and run?”
Jule glanced at Alex scornfully and went on.
“I just couldn’t move. All I could do was to wag my tongue, and I take it you know what I said. I don’t. I know my head swayed back and forth in response to the motions of the snake. I saw all kinds of bright and beautiful lights in the wicked eyes of him. I felt his great, sticky face rubbing against my cheek! Ough!”
“That’s the way they charm birds and monkeys,” Frank said.
“And then Alex came up and his arrow struck the serpent in the neck and I was free from the fascination, but weak—just as weak as a cat!”
“That was a good shot, Alex,” Frank said, stepping forward to inspect the arrow, which had passed entirely through the neck of the great reptile, protruding at both sides.
“It is a wonder!” the boy replied. “I was so scared that I didn’t know what I was doing. You see, this great brute had his head right on the kid’s shoulder. I never saw a human face as white as his was at that time!”
“It wasn’t any whiter than I felt,” grinned Jule. The boys finished the serpent with a couple of shots and started back to the river. They walked a long ways, but still no water showed in the distance.
Then Frank put out his hand and stood still. When he put it out to Clay there was a drop of rain in the palm.