eaved itself up, and quick as lightning threw
itself round the dog, and they saw its head raised and darted down at
the dog's neck.

Instantaneously as it had constricted poor Bruff, it untwined itself as
rapidly; and as in his wonder and alarm Bruff uttered a furious bark, he
unloosed his hold upon the slimy creature's tail, before he could
recover from his surprise and make a fresh attempt at seizure the
serpent had dived and was gone.

"Did you see the snake strike him?" said the captain.

"Yes; and they are terribly poisonous."

"Said to be," said the captain, "but I never knew anyone bitten."

"I have," said the mate in a low voice, "two cases; and both people
died."

"Call the dog on board," said the captain; and in obedience to his
master's call the dog swam alongside and was hauled in, to stand barking
with his paws resting on the bows after his regular shake.

They all looked hard at the dog, but his only concern seemed to be as to
where the serpent had gone; and that was very evident, for as the water
grew quiescent they could see it about eight feet below them swimming
slowly with an undulating motion in and out among the weeds and corals,
apparently none the worse for having been perforated with small-shot.

"Couldn't we get it?" said Mark, glancing at the boat-hook.

"No," said his father decisively; "and even if we could, I think we are
better without its company. Go on."

The oars dipped again and the boat glided rapidly over the calm waters,
while Mark spent his time between gazing at the beauties of the shore,
with its many changes, rocky points, and nooks, and watching Bruff, who
exhibited no signs of suffering from the venom of the serpent's bite.

It was a long pull for the men, and from time to time the captain and
mate exchanged places to give them a rest; but it was far more easy for
all than toiling over the heated sands, while, as far as they could
judge, there seemed every probability of their being able to row on as
far as they liked, the broad canal-shaped lagoon being continued right
onward--the reef of coral only varying a little by coming nearer at
times, and always acting as a barrier to break the heavy swell.

At last Mark caught sight of that for which he had long been watching,
having made out the sheltering rocks where he had slept quite early in
their journey. The sight for which he had attentively watched was a set
of specks far off upon the yellow sands, and as soon