Now, it happened that the snake had its home under the rock, and the movement of the lads made it more angry than ever.  With a fierce hiss it came for the rock and disappeared underneath, out of the range of their vision.

“It’s gone under the rock!” panted Fred. He was so agitated he could scarcely speak.

“I know it,” returned Sam.  “I wonder if it means to crawl up here?”

“Oh, don’t say that, Sam.  I —­ I —­ can’t we hit it with something?”

“I haven’t a thing but the bag of paper.”

“Neither have I. Oh, what shall we do?”

“Perhaps, we had better stay here until the others come up.”

“Do you think the snake will keep quiet that long?”

“I’m sure I don’t know.”

Very much disturbed, the two boys peered over the edge of the rock.  They were not versed in the different species of reptiles, and knew not but that the one at hand might be poisonous.

“I see his tail!” cried Fred with a shiver.

“He is moving around as if getting ready to come out.”

“I wonder if I can grab him by the tail?” mused Sam.

“Grab him?  Oh Sam!”

“I’ve heard you can catch them by the tail, snap them, and make their heads fly right off.”

“Gracious, I wouldn’t attempt it!”

While Fred was speaking the tail of the snake came up on the side of the rock.  Setting his teeth, Sam bent down and made a reach for the slippery thing, and caught it tight.

With a hiss the snake raised its head, its diamond-like eyes shining like twin stars.

“You’ll be poisoned!” shrieked Fred, when whack I Sam gave the body of the reptile a swing and brought the head down with great force on the edge of the rock.

One blow was enough, for the head was mashed flat.  Then Sam threw the body into the bushes, there to quiver and twist for several hours to come, although life was extinct.

Fred was as white as a sheet as he leaped to the ground.  “I couldn’t have done that for a million dollars!” he declared.  “What a splendid nerve you have, Sam”

“My father told me how to catch a snake in that way,” exclaimed Sam.  “But hurry, or the hounds will overtake us.  I can hear them coming.”

“Your father must have been equally brave, then,” answered Fred, as they started off on, a run.  “By the way, have you heard anything of him yet?”

“Not a word, Fred.”

“Don’t it make you feel bad at times?”

“Does it, Fred!  Why, some nights I can’t go to sleep for thinking of where he may be dead in the heart of Africa, or perhaps a captive of some savage tribe.”

“Have they ever hunted for him?”

“Several have gone out, but no traces are to be had.  Dick, Tom, and I are in to hunt for him, though, as soon as our Uncle Randolph will permit it.”

“That’s an idea.  But you may have to go right into the jungles for him.”