s right," said the captain, as Lenny came up with the stout line.
"Now make a noose in it. No, no, not at the end: a couple of fathoms
in. That's the way. Take hold, one of you others. Now together draw
the loop over the thing's head."

"What are you going to do?" cried Jack excitedly.

"Take care that he doesn't do any mischief, my lad," cried the captain;
and standing about a dozen feet apart, the two sailors carefully drew
the noose along the deck, till the bottom touched the snake's head, but
it would not pass under.

"Bring your gaff, Bartlett," cried the captain, "and raise the head a
little."

Hardly had he uttered the words, when the snake lifted it of itself a
few inches from the white deck, and its whole body was in motion.

"Look out," cried Jack; and several of the men started back, but the
sailors who held the line stood fast, and drew the noose over the
reptile's head, and with a quick snatch tightened the strong cord about
its neck.

The effect seemed magical, and the shot to have done nothing more than
stun the creature for a time. It was now apparently as strong as ever,
twining itself into knots and then writhing free again, to beat the
white deck with its tail.

But this did not last many minutes, and as the men kept the line tight
across the deck the reptile gradually stretched itself out, till it hung
perfectly limp and almost motionless by the neck. Then a small cask was
brought on deck, a stone jar of prepared spirit poured in, and the snake
drawn over the mouth and allowed to sink in. Then the head of the cask
was held ready and the tightened fishing-line cut short off. There was
a hollow splash, and the cask was covered and secured.

"That's specimen the first," said the doctor, with a smile of
satisfaction. "We shall have to fill that pickle-tub up before we go
back, Jack. There, go and put away the gun and let's have our fish."

"I'll take the gun, Mr Jack, sir," said Edward, who had been watching
all the proceedings with the greatest interest. "I must clean it before
it's put away."

Jack handed him the piece, and the man whispered quickly--

"Mr Jack, sir; do please tell me to come."

"What, with us? Impossible," said Jack hastily. "You heard my father
say that there was not room for another."

"Yes, sir, of course, not room for another like him, but I'm nobody. I
don't want any room; I can sit down in the bottom, or kneel down. And I
should be so useful, sir.