ow which knocked out one eye and bruised its fang. But
the body wound itself around Dick tighter than ever.

Fortunately the youth had not lost his wits completely, and as the
neck of the reptile came up, he grasped it in his hand with the
strongest grip he could command.

"Cut it--cut its head off!" he panted. "Get your pocket-knife!"

At once Captain Jerry dropped his stick and pulled out his jack-knife,
a big affair, such as many old sailors carry. One pull opened the
main blade, and then old Jerry started in to do as Dick had suggested.
It was no easy job and the body of the snake squirmed and whipped in
every direction, lashing each on the neck and the cheek. But the head
came off at last and then they left the body where it fell, and leaped
out of the way of further danger.

"A close shave, lad," said the old sailor, as he peered around for
more snakes.

"I--I should sa--say it wa--was," panted Dick. He was deadly pale.
"I--I thought it would strangle me sure!"

"If it had got around your neck, that is what would have happened.
Reckon as how we had better git out o' this neighborhood, eh?"

"Yes, yes, let us go at once," and Dick started off once more.

After that both were very careful where they stepped and kept their
eyes wide open for any new danger which might arise. So they went on
until they came in sight of the seashore.

"We had better say nothing about the snake," said the eldest Rover.
"It will only scare the girls to death."

"No, lad, you are wrong. We must warn them of danger. Otherwise they
may run into it headlong."

All of the others were glad to have them back and plied them with
questions.

"So there are seven islands," said Tom. "Well, as there are seven of
us, that is one island apiece. I don't think we need complain," and
his jolly manner made all laugh.

When Jerry told the story about the snake Dora set up a scream.

"Oh, Dick, if it had really strangled you!" she gasped. "You must be
very, very careful in the future!"

"Yes, and you must be careful, too, Dora," he answered.

"There is a nice beach right around the edge of the island," said
old Jerry. "So, when we want to visit the other islands, we can walk
around on the sand. That is better than climbing the hill."

"But the beach doesn't run to the other islands, does it?" asked Sam.

"No, but we can carry our rowboat around with us, to that bay between
the islands. There the water is smooth enough for anybody to ro