ore there, and they may be poisonous."

"So am I, sir," said the carpenter, grinning. "Just you ketch hold of
my axe."

"What are you going to do?" said Poole, as he took hold of the handle.

"You stand by a moment, sir," said the carpenter, picking up the joist
upon which he had been operating, and holding it as if it were a lance.
"I am going to poison them."

As he spoke he drove the end right into a heap of Indian corn-husks that
lay in the first corner, the blow being followed by a violent rustling,
and another snake made its appearance, not to dash for the door, but
turning, wriggling, and lashing about as it fought hard till it wriggled
itself free of the little beam which had pinned it into the corner,
crushing its vertebra about a third of its length from the head, and
ending by tying itself in a knot round the piece of wood and holding on.

"Below there!" shouted the carpenter. "Stand clear!"

He advanced towards Fitz with the joist, and as the boy leaped back he
thrust out the piece of wood, resting the middle on the window-sill.

"Here you are, Camel," he cried; "fresh meat, all skewered for you like
a bun on a toasting-fork. Look alive, old haggis, and take him off.
He's a fine un, Master Poole. I can't abear to see waste."

Fitz and Poole both stepped back, and at that moment with one quick
writhe the little serpent seemed to untie itself, dropping to the ground
limply, writhed again as if to tie itself into a fresh knot, and then
stretched itself out at full length.

"Take care, Mr Burnett, sir," cried the carpenter, hastily taking from
Poole and holding out the axe he had been using. "Don't go too near.
Them things can be precious vicious. Ketch hold of this and drop it on
to him just behind his head."

"No, no, don't, Fitz!" cried Poole. "Look at its little fiery eyes. It
may strike."

"Not it," cried Fitz. "Chips has spoiled all his fighting for good;"
and taking a step or two forward with the axe he had snatched from the
carpenter's hand, he made one quick cut and drove it into the earth, for
the blade to be struck at once by the serpent's head, while the ugly
coils were instantaneously knotted round the haft.

Fitz involuntarily started back, leaving the axe-handle with its ugly
load standing out at an angle, and the two lads stood watching the
serpent's head as the jaws parted once or twice and then became
motionless, while the folds twisted round the stout ash-handle gradually