bout seven or
eight feet of the tail part of a great serpent, the rest of the reptile
being down in the forecastle, into which it was making its way when the
mate gave it a shot.

"Yes, the brute!" cried Oliver excitedly. "It woke me by crawling into
my berth."

"Well, he won't do that again. Smith had a cut at him with an axe, and
I a shot. Now, then, lay hold, some of you, and let's haul the beggar
out."

The men hesitated, but the mate ejaculated and seized the tail, which
immediately twitched and threw him off, making everyone laugh.

"Oh, that's nothing," said the mate, taking a fresh grip. "I know I
gave it a death wound. Come along, lay hold, you're not afraid of a
snake?"

Two of the men came up rather unwillingly, and, seizing hold together,
they gave a sharp drag and drew it out, writhing and twining still, and
beating its bleeding head upon the white deck.

"Shall I give it another shot?" cried Oliver excitedly.

"Waste of a good cartridge, sir," said the mate. "It is nearly dead
now. Muscular contractions, that's all."

"Ahoy! Hi! Look out!"

"Oh, murder!" shouted someone.

"Why didn't you speak sooner, mate?" cried another from where he lay
close up under the bulwarks. For the wounded serpent had suddenly
lashed out with its tail, and flogged two of the men over with its
violent blows.

"I say, sir," said the first man, "hadn't I better cut his muscular
contractions off with a haxe afore he clears the deck?"

"No, no, Smith, don't do that," cried Oliver, "you would spoil its
skin."

"Well, sir, but if he don't, he'll spoil our'n," said the sitting man.

"That's a true word, Billy Wriggs," said Smith, in a grumbling tone, as
he began to rub himself. "If I'd my way, I'd chuck the beggar
overboard."

"What's the good o' that, matey, when there arn't no water? You can't
drown sarpents in dry earth."

"Hi! Look out!" shouted the men in a chorus, for the reptile began to
beat the deck again, as it twisted and twined and flogged about with its
muscular tail, which quivered and waved here and there, sending the men
flying. One minute the creature was tied up in a knot, the next gliding
here and there, as if seeking a way to escape.

Gun after gun was raised to give it a shot, but its movements were so
eccentric, that the best marksman would have found it a difficult task
by daylight; there in the shadowy darkness it would have been
impossible.

No one present had any hesitati