The men had hold of the freshly-cut end of the stout joist in an instant, raised it up, its length acting as a powerful lever, and it was wrenched out of its place, to be used beneath its fellows so dexterously that in a short time there was no longer any floor to the principal room of the hacienda, the joists being piled up on one side, and those who were in it stood now a couple of feet lower with the window-sills just on a level with their chests. "Bravo! Splendid!" cried Fitz excitedly. "Why, that gives us a capital breastwork--bulwark, I mean--to fire over." "Yes," cried Poole, "and plenty of stuff, Chips, for you to barricade the doors." "Barricade the doors, sir? You mean stop 'em up, I suppose. But how? Arn't got a big cross-cut saw in your pocket, have you?" "Go on, old chap, and don't chatter so," cried Poole. "Break them in half." "Nice tradesman-like job that'll make, sir! It is all very fine to talk. Here, stand aside, some on you. I never was in a hurry but some thick-headed foremast-man was sure to get in the way. Let's see; where's my rule? Yah! No rule, no pencil, no square. Lay that there first one down, mates. What are they? About twelve foot. Might make three out of each of them." One of the joists was laid on the earth close to a collection of dry leaves. "Looks like an old rat's nest," said Fitz. "Like enough, sir, only we haven't no time to hunt 'em. Sure to be lots in a place like this." "Yes, I can smell them," said Poole--"that nasty musky odour they have!" The carpenter paced along beside the joist, dividing it into three, and made a notch in two places with his axe, to begin the next minute delivering a sharp blow or two where he intended to break the joist. But at the first stroke the violent jar made the far end of the joist leap and come heavily down upon the gathered-together nest of leaves. "Wo-ho!" cried the carpenter. "Steady there!" "Eh, mon! Look at that!" yelled the cook, as there was a scuffling rush, and a thickish snake, about seven feet long, dashed out from its nest and made for the door. There was a yell of dismay, and the men rushed here and there for the windows, to escape, the boys as eager as their companions. It was only the carpenter who stood firm, and he made a chop with his axe at the reptile's tail, but only to drive the blade into the dry earth a yard behind. "After him, Camel!" he roared. "Don't lose him, lad! He'd do to cook like a big eel. Yah, butter-fingers! You let him go! Why didn't you try and catch him by the tail? Here, come back, all of you. Take hold of a joist or two and stir up them nest-like places in the corners. I dare say there's some more. We shall be hungry by and by. Don't let good dinners go begging like that. Here, Mr Burnett, sir, and you, Mr Poole, never you mind them cowardly lubbers; come inside and have a hunt. It'll be a regular bit of sport."