“I’ll have it here in a minute!” called Walter, as he ran swiftly toward the shaded place where the buggy had been left. Near the buggy was old Prince, the horse which the boys had driven that morning. Walter could see the black flanks of the old horse among the trees and as he came nearer he was startled when Prince suddenly snorted as if he were in great fear and began to pull upon the strap as if he were doing his utmost to get away. “Whoa, old fellow!” called Walter. “What’s the trouble now? The flies biting you? Great――――” he began as he came nearer the snorting animal and then abruptly stopped at the startling sight he saw. Crawling lazily over the grass toward the pond, which was only a few yards distant, Walter beheld a snake larger than any he had ever seen out of captivity. As he stopped the great snake also stopped, and lifting its head gazed at the intruder, darting its forked tongue as if it were minded to drive its enemy from the place. “Hi, Dan! Come over here! Come as fast as you can run! Bring the axe!” called Walter in his excitement. “Come on! Come on!” Alarmed by the sharp call, Dan instantly dropped the cooking utensils in his hands and seizing the axe ran swiftly toward the spot where his friend was standing. Not a word did he speak until he stood by Walter’s side and then in a whisper he asked, “What’s wrong?” “The biggest snake you ever saw has just crawled into the weeds down there on the shore!” said Walter excitedly, pointing as he spoke to the huge bed of reeds near the water. “It was as big around as an oar! It wasn’t a foot less than seven feet long! Old Prince was scared out of his――――” Dan waited to hear no more, but grasping his axe, he ran swiftly toward the rushes where Walter had said the great reptile had crawled. “Come back here, Dan!” called Walter, shouting to his friend. “You’ll get bitten or squeezed! That thing is a terror! Come back here!” But Dan did not heed the call of his excited companion. Parting the tall rushes, he stepped boldly into the midst of them and soon was concealed from Walter’s sight. Hesitating a moment, the latter looked about him for a weapon of some kind, and as none could be seen he hastily seized the whip in the buggy and then ran swiftly to the aid of his friend, whose danger he was convinced was great. Cautiously approaching the rushes, he called, “Where are you, Dan? I’m here to help! Where are you?” No reply came from the marsh, though Walter was convinced that he could trace his friend’s way by the movements of the tall rushes. Waiting a moment anxiously, he called again: “Where are you, Dan? Don’t take any chances! Come back here and let the snake do as he pleases! Come on, Dan! Come on!” “Go back and look after the dinner!” came a low call from the midst of the weeds. “I’m not going to leave you here alone!” retorted Walter. “If you want anything to eat go back and look after the fire. I don’t want any help.” “Have you seen anything of the snake?”