"Yes, and all the world round, my lad."

"Fancy that!" cried the sailor, jumping down into the hole again.
"Scar'd me like a great gal, Mr Mark, sir;" and evidently ashamed of
having been startled, he bent down to pick up the fallen tool,
dislodging as he did so some of the loose rubbish, and bounding
backwards to raise the spade and hold it ready to strike as with an axe;
for just at the foot of the ancient wall the rustling sound began again,
and stopped, leaving Dan in the attitude of striking and the rest of the
party leaning over with searching eyes in full expectation of seeing
some little animal spring out.

"What do you make of that, sir?" said the sailor.

"Humph! Don't know. Stand back, all of you," cried Sir James, as he
rose erect from his seat on the top of the wall. "You stop, Dan; the
rest leave me a clear course for firing."

"Wait a minute, father," cried Mark excitedly. "Let me get my piece and
change the cartridges."

"No, no," said Sir James; "one's enough, and I've got a barrel loaded
with small shot. I suppose you would like to see what the specimen is,
doctor."

"Certainly," was the reply. "I can make a shrewd guess, though."

"So can I, sir," said the sailor; "and I can't abide them things."

"Now then," said Sir James, as he stood ready. "I won't hit you, Dan.
Reach out with your spade, stir up those loose stones again, and spring
back quickly."

"I just will, sir!" said the man to himself, and leaning forward he
thrust the spade amongst the loose rubbish; and hopped back with
wonderful agility.

It was a most effectual thrust, and beyond the noise made by the steel
blade of the tool and the rattle of the stones there was a sharp
rustling of something disturbed in its lair, and a loud vindictive hiss.

"Oh, scissors!" ejaculated the sailor, and swinging up the spade again
he held it ready to give a chop; but it was not delivered, for Sir James
shouted to him to step out of the hole, lowered himself down from the
wall, and joined the others on the edge.

"A snake, and a pretty big one too, I expect," said the doctor.
"Python, most likely."

"Pison?" said Dan.

"Python, my lad, not pison," said the doctor. "That class of serpent is
harmless. Don't miss it, Sir James, and don't shatter its head if you
can help it."

"If I shoot it," said Sir James, "I will not answer for where I shall
hit. If you want it as a specimen, take the gun."

"Do you mean it, Sir James?"