"Now we will bring ourselves to an anchor and dine.

Time must be getting on, and my appetite tells me that it must have struck eight bells." Jacques sat down on the ground, and was about to throw himself full length when Ralph observed a movement among the dead leaves; an instant later the head of a snake was raised threateningly within striking distance of Jacques Clery's neck as he sank backward.
Ralph gave a short cry--too late, however, to arrest the sailor's movements--and at the same moment sprang forward and came down with both feet upon the snake.
"What on earth are you doing ?" Jacques asked as he scrambled to his feet.

No answer was made to his question, but he saw at once that Ralph was stamping upon the writhing folds of a snake.

In a minute the motion ceased.
"That was a close shave, Jacques," Ralph said smiling, though his face was pale with the sudden excitement.

"I did not see it until too late to give you warning.