e whacks in a big hurry. Don't step any
closer whatever you do. Now, give him fits, Perk!"

This the other proceeded to do with might and main. The sprightly buzz
suddenly ceased as the great folds of the monster began to squirm and
writhe--Perk lifted his pole and put in another blow for good measure.

"Huh!--guess now he's got his for keeps," gasped the victor in the
singular duel as he managed to get in a third and deciding stroke that
crushed the flat head of the reptile and forever ended its capacity for
business.

They were soon bending over the still squirming snake, Perk eagerly
measuring its length by footing it off and announcing it to be just one
inch over five feet.

"Gimme just a minute so's to whip off that bully rattle, partner," he
was saying as he produced a big pocketknife and opened its large blade.
"I want it to show if any guy ever questions the truth o' my yarn 'bout
these here Florida rattlers. There you are, an' now I'm ready to move
on. But we got to keep our eyes peeled, 'cause I been told these
critters nearly allers have a mate somewhere near by. An' I'm meanin' to
hang on to this bully pole, since we got to come back this way more'n a
few times, seems like."

Nothing else cropped up to disturb their peace of mind and in due time
the pair arrived at the secluded lagoon where they had left their
aircraft so artfully concealed. Apparently nothing had happened in this
quarter since they started forth on their mission, and yet what strange
things had they not seen inside those few hours.

"Seems like supper'd come in fair good jest new," Perk remarked after
they had climbed carefully aboard and were once more comfortably seated
in their accustomed places, "but sorry to say it's bound to be only a
'pology for real grub--dry fare and never even a drop o' water to wash
it down with." And he emitted a disgusted grunt, as if to display a
proper amount of displeasure over the doleful fact.

"I noticed a well of some sort just back of that shack," remarked Jack
as if he too, shared in this moan over the absence of drinking water.
"When we go back we'll try and snatch a drink apiece so as to take the
rusty feeling out of our throats. Until then we'll have to put up with
it, partner."

Necessity knows no law and so Perk was compelled to grin and bear it.
Just the same, as they were munching their simple fare,--and little of
that in the bargain--Jack could hear him muttering to himself and
chuckl