Dead Man's Land Part 56

"It's only guess work, my lad, but it's evidently a large serpent, and those with poisonous fangs are mostly small."

"Take care, Dan," cried Mark, as the sailor prepared to jump down again into the hole.

"I just will, sir!"

"Yes, but mind this," said the doctor. "Stir up the stones, and if you see it, give it just a touch or two with the edge of the spade. I don't want it injured."

"All right, sir," said the man; and spade in hand he approached the foot of the wall, cautiously holding the tool at arm's length, all looking on eagerly, while the doctor, armed as he was with the double gun, shared the position with the sailor of the most important figures there.

"Ready, sir?" whispered Dan, as he reached forward.

"Yes, quite," replied the doctor.

"They are small shot, arn't they, sir?" said Dan.

"Small shot don't hurt much, do they, Bob?" cried Mark, laughing.

"No, sir. I have got one left in my neck now."

"Don't you be afraid of my shot," replied the doctor. "I shall not hit you. But take care of yourself if you start the serpent."

"Right, sir. Here goes!" cried the sailor; and giving the spade a powerful thrust in amongst the stones, he twisted it about, and then started back, for a large scaly head darted out in his direction.

CHAPTER THIRTY.

A REPTILEAN FIGHT.

There was the loud report of the rifle, and then all that was visible was the slowly rising smoke.

"Missed him, sir?" cried Mark excitedly.

"Seems like it, my lad," was the reply, and the doctor opened the breech of the piece to slip in a fresh cartridge. "But I only had a glance, and--"

"Oh, murder!" cried Dan. "Here, let me get out of it," and he scrambled from the hole, for the doctor's words were silenced by a rushing sound, and through the fainter growing smoke were visible the writhings of a great serpent whose head seemed to have turned its tail into a huge whip with which the reptile had begun to thrash about in all directions, leaving no doubt about the doctor's shot having had effect.

"Shouldn't like to be licked with such a flogger as that. My eye, Buck, messmate, fancy what it would be if he had nine tails! But look out, everyone; let's get to the top of the wall before he comes out among us."

Bang!

For just when the heavy blows delivered around the sides of the hole were at their height the doctor fired again, his shot being followed by a rush on the part of the serpent, which flung itself out of the excavation, scattering its enemies in different directions as they made for shelter from the startling a.s.sault.

"Fire again, doctor! Fire again!" cried Mark, from half way up the wall.

"I want a chance first," was the reply, from the top of the heap that the men had formed. "He's making for the other side of the enclosure.

Well, I suppose I must follow him up."

"Take care," said Sir James, who as it happened had made for where a couple of rifles were leaning against the wall. "Let me come with you."

"And me," cried Dean, who possessed himself of the other piece.

"Yes, but where do I come in?" said Mark. "Here, Buck, run to camp and get another rifle."

"No, no," said Sir James. "Three of us are too many. Here, what does the dwarf mean?" For the little fellow, who was making his way along the crumbling top of the wall, suddenly stopped short and mutely answered Sir James's question by pointing with his spear to where the bushes were thickest. "We shan't be able to see it there," continued Sir James.

As if the pigmy understood his words, he dropped down quickly, joined the doctor, gave him an intelligent glance with his piercing dark eyes, and then, spear in hand, made his way through the bushes to the other side of the clump in which, the wounded serpent had sought for shelter.

"You had better leave it to me to finish the work," said the doctor, following the little black.

"Yes," said Mark. "Too many cooks spoil the broth."

"Snake soup," said Dean, laughing; "and I don't know that I want to go."

"I do," cried Mark. "Here, hand over that rifle."

"Shan't. I want to defend myself. Get behind me, if you are afraid."

"You wait," cried Mark sharply.

"Quiet, there!" cried Sir James. "No one but the doctor is to fire. I don't want the beater to be injured amongst those thick bushes."

There was a few moments' silence, for the faint rustling that had been made by the reptile in its retreat through the thick growth had now entirely ceased.

"It's all over," cried Buck.

"Not it, messmate," said Dan. "Them things arn't got nine tails, but they've got nine lives. Even if you cut 'em up you have to kill each piece, and then it won't die till after the sun goes down."

"Lu-lu-lu-lu-lu!" cried the pigmy, from where he was hidden on the other side of the clump.

It was evidently intended to mean, "Look out, doctor," for the boys caught sight for a moment of his raised spear, which disappeared directly, and it was patent to all that it was being plunged again and again in among the tangled growth.

The next moment the blows were resumed, as the serpent began to flog the bushes. There was another report from the doctor's piece; the bushes all about were in motion for a minute or two, and then the noise of the reptile's writhing ceased.

"Killed him, doctor?" cried Mark.

"Can't say, my boy," was the reply, "but I am afraid I have completely spoiled my specimen."

"Never mind, sir," said Dean; "it will be all right for the soup. But do you think it's safe to go near? I want to see what the monster's like."

"So do I," cried Mark; "but we will soon have him out. Here, Buck, step in, lay hold and haul him out into the open."

"Where's that, Mark?" said his father, smiling.

"Well, where it's most open, dad. Now then, you Buck, look alive!"

"No, thank you, sir," said the man, grinning. "I don't want to see him."