And then the four, lining up side by side, struck out fiercely, each doing his level best to touch the rock first. It was a neck-and-neck race, and in a moment more four hands went up on the rock at practically the same time. "I win!" "Not much, my hand was here first!" "Oh, look!" "Don't climb up on that rock!" "What's the trouble?" "What is it?" "It's a snake, and a big one!" yelled Dave. "Back away from the rock, boys, just as fast as you can!" CHAPTER XVIII A CRY FROM THE CLIFF "It's a snake sure enough!" "My, what a big one!" "No climbing on that rock for me!" Such were some of the cries which rent the air as the four youths dropped back into the lake and lost no time in getting away from the spot which had been the goal of the swimming race. "Say, Dave, what sort of a snake do you suppose that was?" queried Roger. "Did he drop into the water?" questioned Ben, anxiously. "If it's a water snake maybe it's after us." "I don't know what kind of snakes are to be found around here," returned Dave. "But it was dark in color and I think all of four or five feet long." "Say, who won this race, anyhow?" came from Phil, as the boys swam around not far from the rock. "I should say the snake did," laughed Dave. In the meantime Dunston Porter, noticing that something unusual was going on in the vicinity of the goal, had leaped up and was running along the edge of the cove. [Illustration: "IT'S A SNAKE, AND A BIG ONE!"--_Page 179._] "What's the matter over there?" he yelled. "A snake, Uncle Dunston," called back Dave. "Better get a shotgun and go after it." "O dear! did you say a snake?" came from Laura, in dismay. Acting on Dave's suggestion, Dunston Porter hurried back to one of the bungalows. He reappeared with a shotgun, and lost no time in making for the vicinity of the rock where the reptile had been seen. In the meanwhile the four boys rejoined Luke and Shadow, and all swam back to the dock. "Oh, Dave, are you sure the snake didn't drop into the water after you?" questioned Jessie, and her face showed her anxiety. "No, it retreated to the rocks further back," was the answer. "Was it a poisonous snake?" asked Mrs. Basswood. "I am sure I don't know." "If there are snakes in these woods I don't think I'll care to go out very much," commented Laura, with a shiver. "Snakes will just spoil everything," added Jessie, dismally. While the boys and girls were dressing the report of a shotgun rang out. "If that was Uncle Dunston shooting, he must have found Mr. Snake," were Dave's words. "I hope he did find the snake," answered Roger. "If that reptile was left prowling around in this vicinity, none of the ladies would want to go out." "And I wouldn't care much about going out myself," added Luke.