Edgar said the same. Rob felt very proud of being the leader of so large a party, but in his eagerness to pick a quantity of fruit, he did not watch over them as carefully as he should have done. On and on they went, Rob making a remark every now and then to those near him. Presently he heard Tommy shriek out, “A snake, a snake!” and throwing down his basket, he ran off towards the more open part of the scrub.
“Come back!” cried Rob. “It is only a paddy-melon, and won’t hurt you or any one else.”
Tommy, however, would not stop.
“Come along, Edgar, and catch the child,” cried Rob, forgetting Effie and Albert, whom he had not seen for some minutes.
It was some time before Tommy could be overtaken.
“You stupid monkey!” cried Rob, when he caught him; “there are no snakes here to do you any harm.”
Tommy, however, was not easily persuaded, and still asserted that he had seen the head of a big snake. At length they got him to come back and pick up his basket.
“Hulloa! Where are Effie and Albert?” asked Rob. “We left them close here, I am sure.”
They looked about in every direction; they shouted, but no answer came.
“This is provoking!” cried Rob. “I expected those children to keep close to us; see how obstinate they are! I’ll make them remember this when we catch them.”