t was for a prize of
a thousand dollars?"

The four who had remained in the race were now less than five yards from
the goal, a large flat rock that was joined to the mainland by a series
of other rocks.

"Here is where I win!" declared Ben, and threw himself forward with all
the strength left to him.

"Not much!" came from Phil.

"Count me in!" panted Roger.

"Also yours truly!" added Dave.

And then the four, lining up side by side, struck out fiercely, each
doing his level best to touch the rock first. It was a neck-and-neck
race, and in a moment more four hands went up on the rock at practically
the same time.

"I win!"

"Not much, my hand was here first!"

"Oh, look!"

"Don't climb up on that rock!"

"What's the trouble?"

"What is it?"

"It's a snake, and a big one!" yelled Dave. "Back away from the rock,
boys, just as fast as you can!"

CHAPTER XVIII

A CRY FROM THE CLIFF

"It's a snake sure enough!"

"My, what a big one!"

"No climbing on that rock for me!"

Such were some of the cries which rent the air as the four youths
dropped back into the lake and lost no time in getting away from the
spot which had been the goal of the swimming race.

"Say, Dave, what sort of a snake do you suppose that was?" queried
Roger.

"Did he drop into the water?" questioned Ben, anxiously. "If it's a
water snake maybe it's after us."

"I don't know what kind of snakes are to be found around here," returned
Dave. "But it was dark in color and I think all of four or five feet
long."

"Say, who won this race, anyhow?" came from Phil, as the boys swam
around not far from the rock.

"I should say the snake did," laughed Dave.

In the meantime Dunston Porter, noticing that something unusual was
going on in the vicinity of the goal, had leaped up and was running
along the edge of the cove.

[Illustration: "IT'S A SNAKE, AND A BIG ONE!"--_Page 179._]

"What's the matter over there?" he yelled.

"A snake, Uncle Dunston," called back Dave. "Better get a shotgun and go
after it."

"O dear! did you say a snake?" came from Laura, in dismay.

Acting on Dave's suggestion, Dunston Porter hurried back to one of the
bungalows. He reappeared with a shotgun, and lost no time in making for
the vicinity of the rock where the reptile had been seen. In the
meanwhile the four boys rejoined Luke and Shadow, and all swam back to
the dock.

"Oh, Dave, are you sure the snake didn't drop into the water aft