Ralph and the sailor each took a biscuit and a draught of wine, and soon afterward started on their ramble provided with food as arranged.  Both were delighted with the luxuriant vegetation, and wandered for hours through the woods admiring the flowers and fruits, abstaining, however, from tasting the latter, as for aught they knew some of the species might be poisonous.  Presently, however, they came upon some bananas.  Neither of them had ever seen this fruit before, but Ralph had read descriptions of it in books, Jacques had heard of it from sailors who had visited the West Indies before.  They therefore cut some bunches.  “Now we will bring ourselves to an anchor and dine.  Time must be getting on, and my appetite tells me that it must have struck eight bells.”  Jacques sat down on the ground, and was about to throw himself full length when Ralph observed a movement among the dead leaves; an instant later the head of a snake was raised threateningly within striking distance of Jacques Clery’s neck as he sank backward.  Ralph gave a short cry—­too late, however, to arrest the sailor’s movements—­and at the same moment sprang forward and came down with both feet upon the snake.

“What on earth are you doing?” Jacques asked as he scrambled to his feet.  No answer was made to his question, but he saw at once that Ralph was stamping upon the writhing folds of a snake.  In a minute the motion ceased.

“That was a close shave, Jacques,” Ralph said smiling, though his face was pale with the sudden excitement.  “I did not see it until too late to give you warning.  It was just the fraction of a second, and even as I jumped I thought he would strike your neck before my boot came on him.”

“You saved my life, lad,” the other said huskily, trembling from head to foot, as he saw how narrowly indeed he had escaped from death.  “I have been in some hard fights in my time, but I don’t know that ever I felt as I feel now.  I feel cold from head to foot, and I believe that a child could knock me down.  Give me your hand, lad.  It was splendidly done.  If you had stopped for half a moment to think I should have been a dead man.  Good heavens! what an escape I had.”

“I am glad to have been of service for once.  You have been so kind to me since I came aboard the brig that it is fair that I should do you a good turn for once.  I am not surprised you are shaken, for I feel so myself.  We had better both have a drink of wine, and then we can see about our meal.”

“No more lying down on the ground for me,” the sailor said.  “Once is enough of such a thing as that.  However, hand me the bottle.  I shall feel better after that.”