of time to shoot."

"Would you mind doing it, my lad?" said the doctor.

"Not me, sir, now I knows what it is. You meant it warn't a stinger,
sir, didn't you?"

"It's only guess work, my lad, but it's evidently a large serpent, and
those with poisonous fangs are mostly small."

"Take care, Dan," cried Mark, as the sailor prepared to jump down again
into the hole.

"I just will, sir!"

"Yes, but mind this," said the doctor. "Stir up the stones, and if you
see it, give it just a touch or two with the edge of the spade. I don't
want it injured."

"All right, sir," said the man; and spade in hand he approached the foot
of the wall, cautiously holding the tool at arm's length, all looking on
eagerly, while the doctor, armed as he was with the double gun, shared
the position with the sailor of the most important figures there.

"Ready, sir?" whispered Dan, as he reached forward.

"Yes, quite," replied the doctor.

"They are small shot, arn't they, sir?" said Dan.

"Small shot don't hurt much, do they, Bob?" cried Mark, laughing.

"No, sir. I have got one left in my neck now."

"Don't you be afraid of my shot," replied the doctor. "I shall not hit
you. But take care of yourself if you start the serpent."

"Right, sir. Here goes!" cried the sailor; and giving the spade a
powerful thrust in amongst the stones, he twisted it about, and then
started back, for a large scaly head darted out in his direction.

CHAPTER THIRTY.

A REPTILEAN FIGHT.

There was the loud report of the rifle, and then all that was visible
was the slowly rising smoke.

"Missed him, sir?" cried Mark excitedly.

"Seems like it, my lad," was the reply, and the doctor opened the breech
of the piece to slip in a fresh cartridge. "But I only had a glance,
and--"

"Oh, murder!" cried Dan. "Here, let me get out of it," and he scrambled
from the hole, for the doctor's words were silenced by a rushing sound,
and through the fainter growing smoke were visible the writhings of a
great serpent whose head seemed to have turned its tail into a huge whip
with which the reptile had begun to thrash about in all directions,
leaving no doubt about the doctor's shot having had effect.

"Shouldn't like to be licked with such a flogger as that. My eye, Buck,
messmate, fancy what it would be if he had nine tails! But look out,
everyone; let's get to the top of the wall before he comes out among
us."

Bang!

For just when the heavy blow