Slowly, but in a compact form, did the snakes creep forward, hissing, and expanding their huge mouths, and darting out their forked tongues, which quivered like a million of grasshoppers strung upon steel wires, and exposed to a strong breeze.
"Come back, you—." The rest of the sentence was inarticulate, but I think it sounded like "fools."
We glanced at the inspector, and found that he was in full retreat with the horses, evidently being disposed to be on the safe side.
"Let us give them one more shot, and be off," said Fred.
He was about to carry his words into effect, when a thought suddenly struck me, and I lowered my revolver.
"Fred," I said, "did you put your powder flask in your pocket?"
"No, for I supposed that you did," he replied.
"Then let me advise you to reserve your fire, for we have but one shot each, and it is a long way to camp."
I had hardly delivered the caution, when we found that it was full time to beat a retreat. The snakes, still showing signs of anger, had crept to within ten yards of us, and I thought, from a hasty observation, that they were preparing to separate, and make a spring.
"Now, then, for a run!" cried Fred; and we turned our backs upon our enemies, and started towards the horses as fast as our legs could carry us.