grew lax and then dropped limply and loosely upon the earth, ending by
heaving slightly as a shudder seemed to run from the bleeding neck right
to the tail.

"He's as good as dead, gentlemen," said the carpenter. "He won't hunt
no more rats under this place. Give me my chopper, please; I am
thinking there are a few more here. Let's have 'em out, or they'll be
in the way and get their tails trodden on when the fighting begins."

"Yes, let's have them out, Chips," cried Poole; "but be careful. They
may be poisonous, and savage with being disturbed."

"Oh yes, I'll be careful enough," cried the carpenter; and raising the
joist again he stepped back from the window and drove it into another
corner of the room, the boys peering in through the nearest window and
eagerly watching for the result.

"Nothing here," cried the carpenter, after giving two heavy thrusts.
"Yes, there is. Here's a little baby one. Such a little wriggler! A
pretty one too; seems a pity to kill him."

"No, no," cried Fitz, as he watched the active movements of the little
snake that suddenly raised itself like a piece of spiral spring, its
spade-shaped head playing about menacingly about a foot from the ground.

"Yes, take care," cried Poole. "I believe that's a viper."

"So's this," said the carpenter, letting one end of the joist rest upon
the ground and the other fall heavily right across the threatening
snake. "Hah! That's a wiper, and I wiped him out."

Next moment he lifted the joist again, and used it pitchfork-fashion to
jerk the completely crushed dangerous reptile out of another window,
before advancing to the third corner, where a larger heap of Indian
corn-husks seemed to have been drawn together.

"Anything there, Chips?" cried Fitz.

"Oh yes, there's a big un here--two on 'em; and they're telling tales of
it, too, for they've left 'em hanging outside. Now, whereabouts will
their heads be?"

"Take care," cried Poole, "for you may cripple one and leave the other
to dart at you."

"Yes, and that wouldn't be nice," said the carpenter thoughtfully. "I
don't mind tackling one of them, but two at a time's coming it a bit too
strong. 'Tarn't fair like."

"Look here," cried Fitz, "we'll come in, and each have a joist. We
should be sure to kill them then."

"I dunno so much about that, gen'lemen. You might help, and you
moten't. If they made a rush you might be in my way, and you know, as
old Andy says, Too many cook