nothing to be seen
under it. He poked the mattress with the blunt end of his stick here
and there, and he soon saw that something was moving inside. "Ah!"
he said, "there you are, my friend." The thought of having slept two
nights on a live snake made him shudder a little, but he was bent on
vengeance. He took hold of one end of the mattress with one hand,
and holding the stick in the other, he carried it outside and laid it
on the grass. Looking carefully at every side of the mattress he
discovered the hole through which the snake had entered. It was so
small that he could scarcely believe that a snake had gone through
it, but no other hole was anywhere visible. Philip said, "If the
beast comes out it shall be through fire," so he picked up a few
pieces of bark which he placed over the hole, and set on fire. The
straw inside was soon in a blaze, and the snake was lively. His
situation was desperate, and his movements could be traced by the
rising and falling of the ticking. Philip said, "My friend, you are
looking for a hole, but when you find it it will be a hot one." The
snake at last made a dash for life through the fire, and actually
came out into the open air. But he was dazed and blinded, and his
skin was wet and shining with oil, or perspiration, or something.

Philip gave him a finishing stroke with his stick, and tossed him
back into the fire. Of course a new mattress was necessary, and a
keen eye for snakes ever afterwards.

The teaching in the school went on with regularity and success.
There was, however, an occasional interruption. Once a furious
squall came over the lake, and shook the frail building so much that
Philip threw open the door and sent out all the children, the little
ones and girls first, and then the boys, remaining himself to the
last like the captain of a sinking ship; but he was not so much of a
fool to stay inside and brave destruction; he went out to a safe
distance until the squall was over.

Sometimes a visitor interfered with the work of the school, and
Philip for that reason hated visitors; but it was his duty to be
civil and patient. Two inspectors called on two different occasions
to examine the scholars. One of them was scarcely sober, and he
behaved in a manner so eccentric that the master had a strong
temptation to kick him out. However, he at last succeeded in seeing
the inspector outside the door peaceably, and soon afterwards the
department dispensed wi