Once more the fish, as it saw the occupants of the skiff, darted swiftly away, but Walter was wiser now, as well as more careful, and giving his victim a free line he did not begin to reel again until the pull ceased upon his line. His excitement redoubled, but Dan smiled approvingly as he marked his friend’s caution. Three times more the desperate pickerel darted away, but the run was shorter each time and there was less resistance each successive time that the young fisherman reeled in his victim. “Bring him alongside now,” directed Dan. “Be careful! If he touches the boat with his tail he’ll get a purchase and break away. There! That’s right! I’ll have to use a gaff on him, the net is too small. Good! That’s exactly where I want him!” Taking his gaff, Dan suddenly thrust it under the pickerel and then with one quick, strong pull brought the great fish into the skiff. Despite the floppings and flounderings of the safely landed fish, Dan gave it one hard blow with a short hickory club and its struggles were ended. “That’s what I always do,” he explained. “I don’t want to keep a fish in misery; and, besides, it’s better eating if killed quickly.” “Dan! Dan! Look there!” abruptly exclaimed Walter in a low voice, and as his companion looked up, instantly he saw what had aroused the attention of his companion. Not more than five yards away, and swimming near the border of the rushes, was the huge snake which Walter had seen a few hours previous to this time. CHAPTER V PREPARATION “Get it, Dan!” shouted Walter. “Use your oar! Hit it!” The young oarsman obediently swung the skiff about and started swiftly in pursuit of the reptile, but before the weeds were gained the snake disappeared and a further search failed to reveal its presence. “Too bad, Walter,” said Dan lightly. “What did you want of it?” “Why, I’d have the skin tanned or stuffed and hang it on the wall of my room in school.” “What for?” “‘What for?’ For an ornament.” “Do the boys in the Tait School think snakes are ornamental?” “Well, it would be interesting anyway. But it’s gone now and there’s no use in talking about it any more. You weren’t quick enough, Dan.” “No, I wasn’t quick enough, that’s a fact. A fellow would have to be about as lively as a flash of lightning to catch one of those fellows on the water.” “Did you ever see as big a one as that was?” “Never.” “Sure it was a water-snake, Dan?” “Yes. I’ve seen the time early in the month when a fellow walking along the shore of Six Town Pond would stir up hundreds of these fellows――little chaps a good many of them. The last time I was here――and that is more than a year ago――I saw a lively fight between a water-snake and a brown thrush.” “Which won? What were they fighting about?”