ut he was too late, for the lad had already given the line a quick
shake, with the result that the snake uncoiled like lightning, and
darted at the nearest object, that object being Miss Linton's arm, round
which it coiled with the rapidity of the thong of a whip round a stick.

The resident's daughter was brave and strong minded, but as she felt the
contact of the creature's cold scales upon her bare arm she could not
forbear from shrieking aloud; but even as she uttered the cry, the young
soldier, Gray, had caught the snake round the neck, causing it to loosen
its hold, but only to coil round his own bare arm, round which it
twisted, and twice seized the wrist with its little mouth.

"The snake has bitten me," said the young man, hoarsely, as he dashed
its head rapidly against one of the chairs, and then cast it, broken but
writhing, upon the white deck.

All this took but a few moments, and then Private Gray stood, gazing
with a strange wild longing look at Miss Linton, as the doctor
exclaimed,--

"Quick, Roberts, to my cabin; the ammonia. Ladies, go away, please,
quickly."

He caught the young soldier, and forced him back in one of the chairs as
he spoke, for already a ghastly pallor was overspreading his
countenance.

"Is it--is it poisonous, doctor?" whispered Miss Linton, as she darted a
horrified look at Gray.

"Deadly! my dear young lady," he replied hastily. "The poor fellow has
saved your life. And only last night," he thought, "I said he was a
coward."

CHAPTER FOUR.

DOCTOR BOLTER RUBS HIS HANDS, AND CAPTAIN SMITHERS LOOKS GREEN.

As soon as Bob Roberts returned with the ammonia, and realised what was
wrong, he pulled out his pocket-knife, placed his foot on the reptile's
neck, as it still writhed feebly, and cut off its head.

He had hardly completed his task though, before he was summoned by the
doctor to assist him. Here, however, he was forestalled by Miss Linton,
who, ignoring the request to go, had in the most business-like way
helped to lower the fainting man upon the deck, and supported his head
while the stimulant was administered.

"Pray go away, Miss Linton," exclaimed Doctor Bolter then; "this is only
a task for a trained nurse."

"I am a trained nurse," said Rachel Linton, quietly; and drawing a
cushion from a chair, she placed it on the deck, lowered the injured
man's head upon it, and then, seeing the doctor's intention, held the
patient's arm while he freely used a l