"I'll
never let it get away;" and they could hear the whistle of his labored
breathing, and the loud whacking of his stick, as they cowered behind
the guide, white with terror.
It was over in a moment, and the reptile, inert and helpless, was
stretched half-way across the entrance room. The captain stood upright
and wiped his forehead.
"Come, girlies," he said, trying to speak cheerily, "let's get out of
here. We've seen enough, I guess!"
Nothing loth, they quickly followed him up the steps while the
trembling men and the guide gathered carefully around the now harmless
reptile. Amid the consternation of the ladies above, who had widely
scattered in their terror, the three were about departing unnoticed,
when Mrs. Campbell recognized them and called out,
"Is that you, Captain Hosmer--and did you kill that horrid snake. I
might have known it! You have a way of being on hand when you are
needed."
He lifted his cap, and, as the girls hesitated, she came up to them
with a really sweet look on her face.
"Don't hurry away, girls! You don't know how good it seems to see you
again. I have been almost homesick ever since we landed. You know the
Windemeres have gone on, but I found Mr. Campbell here waiting for me.
We--"
She was interrupted by a coarse laugh, and her husband appeared,
ascending the steps. Turning to him, she said in a dignified tone,
"Rufus, these are Captain Hosmer and his daughters, of the
'International.
Pages:
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228