le they were often in a twilight shade and could not
see the sun, which might have told them which way they were going.

"It gave me something of a start when I thought there were other people on
the island besides ourselves," remarked Percival as they went on through a
semi-darkness, the vegetation being thick above and around them so that
they could see nothing of the sky. "It's pretty dark here."

"Yes," agreed Jack, turning on his pocket flash. "Hello!"

"What's the matter?" asked Percival, Jack's tone being one of alarm.

A shot rang out, and then Jack jumped back, exclaiming:

"I guess I've settled him, Dick!"

"What have you settled, Jack?"

"That fellow there," and Jack turned the light upon something at his feet
and then pushed it aside.

"A snake!" exclaimed Percival. "You blew his head off. Is he very
dangerous, Jack?"

"Well, not now," said the other with a dry laugh.

"No, I should say not. Would he have been?"

"He belongs to the family of dangerous snakes, one of the most dangerous,
in fact. He is either a fer de lance or a first cousin to it, and either
is a sort of creature to keep away from. The bite is nearly always fatal,
as the virus acts so rapidly upon the system. It was lucky I turned on the
light when I did. These creatures inhabit the dark places and are always
ready for an unwary traveler."

"H'm! I think we had better keep in the light, Jack. We go into a dark
water cave and run across a devil fish. Then we go into the dark woods and
meet with this poison gentleman. Let's go back to the light!"

"I think we had better," returned Jack. "We are strangers here and the
residents seem to resent our coming. I am sure I'll be glad enough to
leave the place for good."

It did not seem to be such an easy matter, however, for difficulties beset
them on every side as soon as they started to leave the jungle, as though
there were some malign influence in those gloomy shades which was
endeavoring to hold them captive.

There were morasses which they had to avoid, there were bramble thickets
which barred their way, and Percival questioned whether Jack was going in
the right direction and asked him to try another.

"We are going toward the shore, Dick," said Jack, "and if we keep on you
will see that I am right."

"I don't doubt that we were going that way in the beginning, Jack, but we
were thrown out of our path by the brambles and again by the swamp, not to
mention the snake, and I do