had moved in several directions, only to find himself worse off than before.
"Be careful," warned Harold Bird. "If you aren't careful—Stop!"
All of the boys halted, for the command was out of the ordinary. The young Southerner was looking straight ahead of him.
"What is it?" questioned Tom, in a low tone, thinking some of the enemy might be near.
"Am I right, and is that a snake ahead?" asked Harold Bird. "It looks like a snake and still it may be nothing but the dead limb of a tree."
"Say, I ton't vonts me no snakes in mine!" ejaculated Hans, trying to retreat.
All the boys gazed at the object ahead with interest. Then Tom broke off a stick near him and threw it at the object. The latter did not budge.
"Must be a tree limb," said Tom. "But it looked enough like a snake to frighten anybody."
"I am not sure yet," answered Harold Bird. "You must remember that some of our southern snakes are very sluggish and only move when they are hungry or harassed."
"We'll give the limb, or whatever it is, a wide berth," said Sam.
They started to move to one side. But Tom was curious, and chancing to see a stone among
