"Looks like an old rat's nest," said Fitz. "Like enough, sir, only we haven't no time to hunt 'em. Sure to be lots in a place like this."

"Yes, I can smell them," said Poole--"that nasty musky odour they have!"

The carpenter paced along beside the joist, dividing it into three, and made a notch in two places with his axe, to begin the next minute delivering a sharp blow or two where he intended to break the joist.

But at the first stroke the violent jar made the far end of the joist leap and come heavily down upon the gathered-together nest of leaves.

"Wo-ho!" cried the carpenter. "Steady there!"

"Eh, mon! Look at that!" yelled the cook, as there was a scuffling rush, and a thickish snake, about seven feet long, dashed out from its nest and made for the door.

There was a yell of dismay, and the men rushed here and there for the windows, to escape, the boys as eager as their companions.

It was only the carpenter who stood firm, and he made a chop with his axe at the reptile's tail, but only to drive the blade into the dry earth a yard behind.

"After him, Camel!" he roared. "Don't lose him, lad! He'd do to cook like a big eel. Yah, b.u.t.ter-fingers! You let him go! Why didn't you try and catch him by the tail? Here, come back, all of you. Take hold of a joist or two and stir up them nest-like places in the corners. I dare say there's some more. We shall be hungry by and by. Don't let good dinners go begging like that. Here, Mr Burnett, sir, and you, Mr Poole, never you mind them cowardly lubbers; come inside and have a hunt. It'll be a regular bit of sport."

"Thanks, no," said Fitz, who was looking in through one of the windows, Poole following his example at another.

"You had better mind, Chips," said the latter. "I dare say there are several more there, and they may be poisonous."

"So am I, sir," said the carpenter, grinning. "Just you ketch hold of my axe."

"What are you going to do?" said Poole, as he took hold of the handle.

"You stand by a moment, sir," said the carpenter, picking up the joist upon which he had been operating, and holding it as if it were a lance.

"I am going to poison them."

As he spoke he drove the end right into a heap of Indian corn-husks that lay in the first corner, the blow being followed by a violent rustling, and another snake made its appearance, not to dash for the door, but turning, wriggling, and lashing about as it fought hard till it wriggled itself free of the little beam which had pinned it into the corner, crushing its vertebra about a third of its length from the head, and ending by tying itself in a knot round the piece of wood and holding on.

"Below there!" shouted the carpenter. "Stand clear!"

He advanced towards Fitz with the joist, and as the boy leaped back he thrust out the piece of wood, resting the middle on the window-sill.

"Here you are, Camel," he cried; "fresh meat, all skewered for you like a bun on a toasting-fork. Look alive, old haggis, and take him off.

He's a fine un, Master Poole. I can't abear to see waste."

Fitz and Poole both stepped back, and at that moment with one quick writhe the little serpent seemed to untie itself, dropping to the ground limply, writhed again as if to tie itself into a fresh knot, and then stretched itself out at full length.

"Take care, Mr Burnett, sir," cried the carpenter, hastily taking from Poole and holding out the axe he had been using. "Don't go too near.

Them things can be precious vicious. Ketch hold of this and drop it on to him just behind his head."

"No, no, don't, Fitz!" cried Poole. "Look at its little fiery eyes. It may strike."

"Not it," cried Fitz. "Chips has spoiled all his fighting for good;"

and taking a step or two forward with the axe he had s.n.a.t.c.hed from the carpenter's hand, he made one quick cut and drove it into the earth, for the blade to be struck at once by the serpent's head, while the ugly coils were instantaneously knotted round the haft.

Fitz involuntarily started back, leaving the axe-handle with its ugly load standing out at an angle, and the two lads stood watching the serpent's head as the jaws parted once or twice and then became motionless, while the folds twisted round the stout ash-handle gradually grew lax and then dropped limply and loosely upon the earth, ending by heaving slightly as a shudder seemed to run from the bleeding neck right to the tail.

"He's as good as dead, gentlemen," said the carpenter. "He won't hunt no more rats under this place. Give me my chopper, please; I am thinking there are a few more here. Let's have 'em out, or they'll be in the way and get their tails trodden on when the fighting begins."

"Yes, let's have them out, Chips," cried Poole; "but be careful. They may be poisonous, and savage with being disturbed."

"Oh yes, I'll be careful enough," cried the carpenter; and raising the joist again he stepped back from the window and drove it into another corner of the room, the boys peering in through the nearest window and eagerly watching for the result.

"Nothing here," cried the carpenter, after giving two heavy thrusts.

"Yes, there is. Here's a little baby one. Such a little wriggler! A pretty one too; seems a pity to kill him."

"No, no," cried Fitz, as he watched the active movements of the little snake that suddenly raised itself like a piece of spiral spring, its spade-shaped head playing about menacingly about a foot from the ground.

"Yes, take care," cried Poole. "I believe that's a viper."

"So's this," said the carpenter, letting one end of the joist rest upon the ground and the other fall heavily right across the threatening snake. "Hah! That's a wiper, and I wiped him out."

Next moment he lifted the joist again, and used it pitchfork-fashion to jerk the completely crushed dangerous reptile out of another window, before advancing to the third corner, where a larger heap of Indian corn-husks seemed to have been drawn together.

"Anything there, Chips?" cried Fitz.

"Oh yes, there's a big un here--two on 'em; and they're telling tales of it, too, for they've left 'em hanging outside. Now, whereabouts will their heads be?"

"Take care," cried Poole, "for you may cripple one and leave the other to dart at you."

"Yes, and that wouldn't be nice," said the carpenter thoughtfully. "I don't mind tackling one of them, but two at a time's coming it a bit too strong. 'Tarn't fair like."

"Look here," cried Fitz, "we'll come in, and each have a joist. We should be sure to kill them then."

"I dunno so much about that, gen'lemen. You might help, and you moten't. If they made a rush you might be in my way, and you know, as old Andy says, Too many cooks spoil the snake-soup. Here, I know; I can soon turn them out."

"How?" cried Poole, as the man stood the joist up against the wall.

"I'll soon show you," cried the carpenter, pulling out a match-box.

"You'll burn the place down."

"Nay," cried the man; "them corn-shucks will just flare up with a fizz; I can trample them out before they catch the wood. You two be on the look-out, for there's no knowing which window my gentlemen will make for as soon as they find as it aren't the sun as is warming them up."

He struck a match as he spoke, let the splint get well alight, and then stepping forward softly he stooped down to apply it to the pale, dry, creamy-looking corn-leaves.

"Look out!" cried Fitz excitedly.

"Oh, my fingers are too hard to burn," growled the carpenter, ignoring the notion of the danger being from the serpents; and he applied the burning match to three places, letting the flame drop in the last, before he stepped quickly back, watching the bright crackling flare which rose in each spot where he had applied the match and then began to run together to form one blaze.

"Why, there's nothing there," cried Poole.

"Oh, yes, there is, gen'lemen, and they're beginning to feel it. It's so nice and warm that--Look, they are pulling their tails in under the blanket to get their share. Now they says it's too hot. Look out; here they come."

The warning was not needed, for there was a sharp, fierce hissing heard plainly above the spluttering crackle of the burning husks, the pile was violently agitated, and then the burning heap was heaved up and scattered about in various directions, while, half-hidden by the smoke, it seemed as if a couple of pieces of stout Manilla cable were being furiously shaken upon the earthen floor.

"Murder!" shouted Poole, starting back from the window where he stood, his action being involuntarily imitated by Fitz, who just caught a glance of the snake that had startled his companion pa.s.sing like a flash over the window-sill, and making at what seemed to be an impossible speed for a clump of bushes close at hand.