rd
was a circlet of six islands, having a stretch of calm water between
them. Between some of the islands the water was very shallow, while
elsewhere it looked deep.

"Seven islands in all," said old Jerry. "And not a sign of a house
or hut anywhere."

"We are the Crusoes of Seven Islands," said Dick. "But do you really
believe they are uninhabited?"

"Do ye see any signs of life, lad?"

"I must say I do not. It's queer, too, for I rather imagined one at
least of the other boats had reached this place."

"I thought the same. But it looks now as if they all went to Davy
Jones's locker, eh?"

"It certainly does look that way."

From the top of the hill they took a careful survey of the situation.
The elevation was in the very center of the island. Down toward the
other islands the slope was more abrupt than it was in the direction
from which they had come.

"We can take a look at those other islands later on," said old Jerry.
"Reckon as how we have done enough for one day. If we don't git back
soon, they'll become anxious about us."

"I wish we had a flag," said Dick. "Here is a tall tree. We could
chop away the top branches and hang up a signal of distress. If we
did that, perhaps some ship would come this way and rescue us."

"Right ye are, lad, but it aint many ships come this way. They are
afraid o' the rocks we run on."

Having looked around once more, to "git the lay o' the land," as
Captain Jerry expressed it, they started to descend the hill. This
proved as difficult as climbing up had been.

Dick went in advance, and was half-way down when he stepped on a
loose stick and went rolling into a perfect network of vines and
brushwood.

"Are ye hurt?" sang out old Jerry.

"No--not much!" answered the eldest Rover. "But my wind--Oh, goodness
gracious!"

Dick broke off short, and small wonder. As 'he arose from the hole
into which he had tumbled, a hissing sound caught his ears. Then up
came the head of a snake at least eight feet long, and in a twinkle
the reptile had wound itself around the boy's lower limbs!

CHAPTER XIV

SETTLING DOWN ON THE ISLAND

"What's wrong, lad?"

"A snake! It has wound itself around my legs!"

"Ye don't say!" gasped Captain Jerry, and then leaped down to the
hollow. "Well, by gosh! Take that, ye beast!"

"That" was a blow aimed at the reptile's head with the sailor's stick.
Old Jerry's aim was both swift and true and the head of the reptile
received a bl