cross at each other.

The snake crawled over to the safe and drank up some milk which had
been spilt on the floor. Mother saw its full length and groaned. The
snake wriggled to the leg of the table.

"Look out!" cried Sal, gathering up her skirts and dancing about on the
sofa.

Mother squealed hysterically.

Joe appeared. He laughed.

"You wretch!" Mother yelled. "Run!--RUN, and fetch your father!"

Joe went and brought Jack.

"Oh-h, my God!"--Mother moaned, as Jack stood at the door, staring
strangely at her. "Kill it!--why don't he kill it?"

Jack did n't move, but talked to himself. Mother shuddered.

The reptile crawled to the bedroom door. Then for the first time the
man's eyes rested upon it. It glided into the bedroom, and Mother and
Sal ran off for Dad.

Jack fixed his eyes on the snake and continued muttering to himself.
Several times it made an attempt to mount the dressing-table. Finally
it succeeded. Suddenly Jack's demeanour changed. He threw off his
ragged hat and talked wildly. A fearful expression filled his ugly
features. His voice altered.

"You're the Devil!" he said; "THE DEVIL! THE DEVIL! The missus
brought you--ah-h-h!"

The snake's head passed behind the looking-glass. Jack drew nearer,
clenching his fists and gesticulating. As he did he came full before
the looking-glass and saw, perhaps for the first time in his life, his
own image. An unearthly howl came from him. "ME FATHER!" he shouted,
and bolted from the house.

Dad came in with the long-handled shovel, swung it about the room, and
smashed pieces off the cradle, and tore the bed-curtains down, and made
a great noise altogether. Finally, he killed the snake and put it on
the fire; and Joe and the cat watched it wriggle on the hot coals.

Meanwhile, Jack, bare-headed, rushed across the yard. He ran over
little Bill, and tumbled through the wire-fence on to the broad of his
back. He roared like a wild beast, clutched at space, spat, and kicked
his heels in the air.

"Let me up!---AH-H-H!--let go me throat!" he hissed.

The dog ran over and barked at him. He found his feet again, and,
making off, ran through the wheat, glancing back over his shoulder as
he tore along. He crossed into the grass paddock, and running to a big
tree dodged round and round it. Then from tree to tree he went, and
that evening at sundown, when Joe was bringing the cows home, Jack was
still flying from "his father".

After s