Page 127 - A Little Bush Maid

and "no end of larks." Then she thought of Dad, and though still dismal,
unwished the wish, and was content to remain a girl.

There was a little excitement on the homeward trip over a snake, which

tried to slip away unseen through the grass, and when it found itself
surrounded by enemies, coiled itself round Harry’s leg, a proceeding very
painful to that youth, who nevertheless stood like a statue while Jim dodged

about for a chance to strike at the wildly waving head. He got it at last, and
while the reptile writhed in very natural annoyance, Harry managed to get

free, and soon put a respectful distance between himself and his
too-affectionate acquaintance. Jim finished up the snake, and they resumed
the track, keeping a careful look-out, and imagining another in every rustle.

"Well done, old Harry!" said Wally. "Stood like a statue, you did!"

"Thanks!" said Harry. "Jim’s the chap to say ’Well done’ to, T think."

"Not me," said Jim. "Easy enough to try to kill the brute. T’d rather do that
than feel him round my leg, where T couldn’t get at him."

"Well, T think T would, too," Harry said, laughing. "T never felt such a desire
to stampede in my life."

"Tt was beastly," affirmed Norah. She was a little pale. "Tt seemed about an

hour before he poked his horrid head out and let Jim get a whack at it. But
you didn’t lose much time, then, Jimmy!"

"Could he have bitten through the leg of your pants?" queried Wally, with
interest.

"He couldn’t have sent all the venom through, T think," Jim replied. "But
enough would have gone to make a very sick little Harry."

"Tt’d be an interesting experiment, no doubt," said Harry. "But, if you don’t

mind, T’ll leave it for someone else to try. T’d recommend a wooden-legged
man as the experimenter. He’d feel much more at his ease while the snake