her him or she had a messmate down in
the hole."

"You may take it for granted that if that serpent had a companion it has
escaped by now."

"Well, that's a comfort, sir."

"Oh, I see," said the doctor, with a peculiar look at the boys; "you
were thinking that we were wasting a good deal of time over this
business instead of digging down."

"That I warn't, sir," said the sailor indignantly; and then catching the
twinkle in the doctor's eye, he winked at him in return. "I wouldn't be
so unfair towards my messmates, sir," he hastened to say. "There's Buck
Denham been for ever so long wanting to handle the shovel, and I was
just a-going to say it would rest me a bit to take a turn with the
basket when my gentleman here said he was at home. Now, Buck, mate,
let's get on."

"That's his way of poking fun, Mr Dean, sir," said Buck, turning to the
boys. "Rum chap, ain't he? He's got a lot of comic in him sometimes.
He do make me laugh. No, Dan, mate, you stick to the spade; you don't
have so far to stoop as I should, and I shouldn't like you to get a
crick in your back by heaving up them loads, which are pretty lumpy
sometimes; and I will say that for you:--you did always fill them for
me, as much as they would hold."

"Well," said Sir James good-humouredly, "settle it between you, my lads,
for the doctor is, I am sure, anxious to go on."

"Thank you, Sir James; I am. Still, this is an interesting episode, and
one that I am sure the boys would not have liked to miss."

"That we shouldn't," they cried, in a breath. "But what's going to be
done with the snake?" said Dean. "It won't be in the way."

"No," said Mark, "and I suppose it isn't likely to come to life again;
but it won't do to have it lying there in the sun."

"No," echoed Dean, with a look of disgust; "it smells bad enough even
now."

"Look here," said Mark, "we will get rid of it at once. Take it away,
Mak;" and partly by signs he explained his wishes.

The black smiled, shrugged his shoulders, and spoke to his little
companion, who turned an enquiring look upon Mark, who nodded at once as
if to say, Yes, I wish it.

A word or two passed between the two, and Mak turned to Dan, signing to
him that he wanted him to come with him.

"What does he want, Dan?" cried Dean. "Knife, sir. All right,
messmate; I'll come." The pigmy had started off, dodging in and out
amongst the thick bushes, and stopped directly after by a long stout
cane, which