re about getting a stab with a knife in a drunken brawl. I can do my
share of fighting when fighting has got to be done, but I do not care
for rows of this sort. Still I know the men look forward to what you
call a spree on shore, and the captain might find it difficult to
preserve discipline if he did not let them have their fling
occasionally."

Ralph and the sailor each took a biscuit and a draught of wine, and
soon afterward started on their ramble provided with food as arranged.
Both were delighted with the luxuriant vegetation, and wandered for
hours through the woods admiring the flowers and fruits, abstaining,
however, from tasting the latter, as for aught they knew some of the
species might be poisonous. Presently, however, they came upon some
bananas. Neither of them had ever seen this fruit before, but Ralph
had read descriptions of it in books, Jacques had heard of it from
sailors who had visited the West Indies before. They therefore cut
some bunches. "Now we will bring ourselves to an anchor and dine. Time
must be getting on, and my appetite tells me that it must have struck
eight bells." Jacques sat down on the ground, and was about to throw
himself full length when Ralph observed a movement among the dead
leaves; an instant later the head of a snake was raised threateningly
within striking distance of Jacques Clery's neck as he sank backward.
Ralph gave a short cry--too late, however, to arrest the sailor's
movements--and at the same moment sprang forward and came down with
both feet upon the snake.

"What on earth are you doing?" Jacques asked as he scrambled to his
feet. No answer was made to his question, but he saw at once that
Ralph was stamping upon the writhing folds of a snake. In a minute the
motion ceased.

"That was a close shave, Jacques," Ralph said smiling, though his face
was pale with the sudden excitement. "I did not see it until too late
to give you warning. It was just the fraction of a second, and even as
I jumped I thought he would strike your neck before my boot came on
him."

"You saved my life, lad," the other said huskily, trembling from head
to foot, as he saw how narrowly indeed he had escaped from death. "I
have been in some hard fights in my time, but I don't know that ever I
felt as I feel now. I feel cold from head to foot, and I believe that
a child could knock me down. Give me your hand, lad. It was splendidly
done. If you had stopped for half a moment to think I sho