y thing
chooses to play dog in the manger over the potatoes, it must take the
consequences. I'll soon finish him. Think he's poisonous?"

"I feel sure of it, Ned," said Jack anxiously. "Look at the swollen
poison glands."

"That settles it. Seems to me like a duty to kill poisonous things. I
know what it is to be poisoned, sir."

He gave his shoulder a twist, and advanced toward the serpent with his
spear-handle ready.

"You keep back, sir, and let me have room to swing my spear round."

"No; I want to kill this one, Ned."

"Better not, sir. It's risky. You might miss."

"You be ready to strike him if I do."

"Very well then, sir; only be careful. A good swish round will do it,
but snakes are quick as lightning, and we've had trouble enough without
you getting bitten."

The snake rose higher, and prepared to strike as Jack advanced, holding
his spear in both hands, and waiting his opportunity, he brought it
round with all his force, but the end passed, through his miscalculation
of the distance, a couple of inches short of the reptile's head, and
before the lad could recover himself to make another blow, the creature
struck back, and would have fastened upon him but for Ned's quick
interposition of his own spear-handle, against which the serpent struck
instead.

The next moment Ned struck again, full on the creature's back, and it
was helpless now for attack, writhing in amongst the growth till Jack
obtained another fine cut at it, and the battle was at an end.

Ned picked it, up upon the end of his spear.

"They say that things are good if roasted, sir. What do you say--shall
we cook him?"

"Ugh! No. Throw the horrible thing away."

"Yes, sir; off it goes. One wants another day's starving to eat roast
snake."

He sent the nearly dead creature whirling through the air with a sudden
jerk of his spear-handle, and then turned to Jack.

"Now, sir," he said, "as quick as you can, and then--"

He did not finish his sentence, but threw himself upon his knees again.
Jack followed his example, and for about ten minutes they busied
themselves getting another load, and then ran to the fireside and
emptied all they had into a heap.

"Now then," cried Ned; "but be careful, sir; they'll be horribly hot."

Jack said nothing, but looked on while his companion thrust the still
burning wood aside with his spear, then swept off the thick bed of
glowing embers, and lastly the hot sand, before turning th