materialize, for the
reason that Captain Putnam was called away on important business. Thus
two days passed, and the snake incident was again practically forgotten
by the majority of the students.

On the following day the master of the Hall came back and said he would
start his investigation that afternoon after the school session.

"And let me tell you one thing," he announced. "Whoever brought that
real snake into this academy will have to suffer for it."

That afternoon in one of the classrooms some of the pupils were reciting
history when of a sudden a wild shriek rang through the air and Nick
Pell was seen to bounce up out of his seat and run away from his desk as
if a demon was after him.

"What is it, Pell?" demanded the teacher.

"The--the snake!" groaned Nick. "Oh, I'm a dead boy!"

"Where is it?" asked a score of voices.

"In my desk! It just bit me in the hand! Oh, I'm a dead boy, I know I
am!" And Nick Pell shook from head to foot in his terror.

The announcement that the snake was in Nick's desk was received in
various ways by the boys present. Some thought it must be the real snake
and others thought it might be only a trick. With caution the teacher
approached the desk, armed with a ruler. Then came a hissing sound and
the snake stuck out its head.

"It's alive!" yelled a dozen cadets.

"Kill it! Kill it!"

"You go and kill it!"

"I haven't anything."

"Neither have I."

"Throw a book at it," suggested Tom, and let fly his Caesar. His aim was
good and the snake was hit in the neck and tumbled to the floor. Then
the boys threw books, rulers and inkwells at the reptile, and it was
driven into a corner. Dick took up a big geography, let it fall on top
of the snake, and stood on it. The reptile squirmed, but could not get
away, and in a few seconds more it was killed.

"That's the end of that snake," said Sam, breathing a sigh of relief.
"And I am mighty glad of it."

"I am poisoned! I am poisoned!" screamed Nick Pell. "See, my hand is
swelling up already!"

"Do you think he was really bitten?" whispered Tom.

"It looks like it," answered Dick. "Too bad--if the snake really was
poisonous."

By this time Captain Putnam had come in. He glanced at the dead snake
and gave a start.

"Did that thing bite you, Pell?" he questioned.

"Yes, sir, right here--in--the--the palm of the hand," cried the youth
addressed. "See how it is swelling."

"I'll telephone for a doctor at once. Come to