The parent birds flew about in converging circles in their strait, clamoring piteously and approaching dangerously near to the jaws of their repulsive enemies.

The boy but stood and screamed.
They were the greatest black-snakes he had ever seen.

Then, all at once, he became another creature.

His childish voice changed in its key, and, club in hand, screaming still louder, he ran right at the bush.

At the same moment his frightened mother came running down the pathway, screaming also.
As the boy leaped downward, both snakes, with wonderful swiftness, dropped to the ground and darted across the open space of a few yards, toward the creek.