He walked slowly, keeping a sharp outlook, and, returning to the glade, found blood-stains under the tree. The snake had disappeared without leaving a trail.
"If I'd had my shotgun ready!" exclaimed Ken, in disgust. And he made a note that in the future he would be prepared to shoot.
"Wasn't he a whopper, Ken?" said Hal. "We ought to have got his hide. What a fine specimen!"
"Boys, you drive away those few little snakes while I figure on a way to get the boat down."
"Not on your life!" replied Hal.
George ably sustained Hal's objection.
"Mucho malo," said Pepe, and then added a loud "No" in English.
"All right, my brave comrades," rejoined Ken, scornfully. "As I've not done any work yet or taken any risks, I'll drive the snakes away."
With Pepe's machete he cut a long forked pole, trimmed it, and, armed with this weapon, he assaulted the rolls and bands and balls of brown snakes. He stalked boldly down upon them, pushed and poled, and even kicked them off the mossy banks. Hal could not stand that, and presently he got a pole and went to Ken's assistance.
"Who's hollering now?" he yelled to George.