“What’s the matter?” he asked, for he felt his sister hanging back. “Are you scairt?”

“A little,” she admitted.

“What of?”

“Snakes!”

“Snakes! There aren’t any snakes here!” laughed Ted.

“Well, I heard a noise,” said Janet, taking a few steps backward. “It sounded just like a rattlesnake that Daddy told us about. Listen!”

The children remained quiet for a few moments and listened. A peculiar whirring, buzzing, rattling sound came to their ears.

“There! Hear that!” cried Janet. “It’s a rattlesnake! I’m going back to the boat!”

She started to run, but with a laugh Ted ran after her, caught her and pulled her back.

“That wasn’t a rattlesnake!” he chuckled.