d in the depressions of the sand.

"Swabs," cried Mr Rimmer, coming forward, and buckets of water being
fetched, the unpleasant stains left by the wounded serpents were soon
moved, though the shot marks remained.

While the men were cleansing the deck and removing the traces left by
the storm, a little party of three, all well armed, set off to try and
trace the serpents and to get a truthful knowledge of their size, the
darkness having given rather an exaggerated idea of their dimensions.
In addition, if found dead, it was proposed to skin them for specimens,
and to this end Smith accompanied them, declaring his willingness to
master his fear of the reptiles and help in any way.

Before leaving the ship they took a good look round, at what promised to
be a beautiful resting-place, as soon as the vegetation began to spring
again, as it was certain to do in that moist tropical heat. Then taking
it for granted that the serpents would make for cover, the steps of the
little party were directed towards the nearest trees, a clump upon a
broad elevated spot which had escaped the devastations caused by the
wave and not many hundred yards from the ship.

"Seems rum, gentlemen," said Smith as they shouldered their guns, and
strode off with a wonderful feeling of elasticity and freedom, after
their long cooping up on board ship.

"What does?" said Oliver.

"The brig, sir. Ups and downs in life we see. Here was she built
ashore, launched and then goes on her voyages, and then all at once she
is launched again t'other way on, as you may say, and run up on land to
stay till she dies."

"Unless we dig a canal back to the sea and float her, Smith," said
Oliver.

"Zackly so, sir, but you'd want ten hundred thousand niggers to do the
work."

"And the weekly wages bill would be rather big," said Drew.

"Look out," said Oliver, who was bending down and carefully examining
the ground.

"What for?" asked Panton, cocking his piece.

"The serpents. Here is some dried blood."

"And here's a mark, sir," added Smith excitedly. "One of the bits come
along here."

"Yes. I can see another mark," cried Panton. "Look." He pointed to
what resembled the impression that would have been made by a large yard
laid in a patch of half-dried mud in a depression, for either going or
coming, a serpent had evidently passed along there.

The trees were close at hand now, and covered a far greater space than
they had imagined. The spot