said Dick. "I feel more like resting than doing anything else."
It was almost noon when they came in sight of the top of the hill. There were still some rough rocks to climb, and these they had to ascend by means of some vines that grew handy.
"What a magnificent view!" cried Dick.
It certainly was magnificent. Looking back in the direction they had come they could see the Pacific Ocean, glittering in the bright sun light and stretching miles and miles out of sight. The island they were on looked to be about half a mile in diameter. Northward, eastward, and westward was the ocean, but to the southward was a circlet of six islands, having a stretch of calm water between them. Between some of the islands the water was very shallow, while elsewhere it looked deep.
"Seven islands in all," said old Jerry. "And not a sign of a house or hut anywhere."
"We are the Crusoes of Seven Islands," said
Dick. "But do you really believe they are uninhabited?"
"Do ye see any signs of life, lad?"
"I must say I do not. It's queer, too, for I rather imagined one at least of the other boats had reached this place."
"I thought the same. But it looks now as if they all went to Davy Jones's locker, eh?"
"It certainly does look that way."
From the top of the hill they took a careful survey of the situation. The elevation was in the very center of the island. Down toward the other islands the slope was more abrupt than it was in the direction from which they had come.
"We can take a look at those other islands later on," said old Jerry. "Reckon as how we have done enough for one day. If we don't git back soon, they'll become anxious about us."
"I wish we had a flag," said Dick. "Here is a tall tree. We could chop away the top branches and hang up a signal of distress. If we did that, perhaps some ship would come this way and rescue us."
"Right ye are, lad, but it aint many ships come this way. They are afraid o' the rocks we run on."
Having looked around once more, to "git the lay o' the land," as Captain Jerry expressed it, they started to descend the hill. This proved as difficult as climbing up had been.
Dick went in advance, and was half-way down when he stepped on a loose stick and went rolling into a perfect network of vines and brushwood.
"Are ye hurt?" sang out old Jerry.
"No — not much!" answered the eldest Rover. "But my wind — Oh, goodness gracious!"
Dick broke off short, and small wonder. As he arose from the hole into which he had tumbled, a hissing sound caught his ears. Then up came the head of a snake at least eight feet long, and in a twinkle the reptile had wound itself around the boy's lower limbs!
CHAPTER XIV
SETTLING DOWN ON THE ISLAND
"What's wrong, lad?"
"A snake! It has wound itself around my legs!"
"Ye don't say!" gasped Captain Jerry, and then leaped down to the hollow. "Well, by gosh! Take that, ye beast!"
"That" was a blow aimed at the reptile's head with the sailor's stick. Old Jerry's aim was both swift and true and the head of the reptile received a blow which knocked out one eye and bruised its fang. But the body wound itself around Dick tighter than ever.
Fortunately the youth had not lost his wits completely, and as the neck of the reptile came up, he grasped it in his hand with the strongest grip he could command.
"Cut it — cut its head off!" he panted. "Get your pocket-knife!"
At once Captain Jerry dropped his stick and pulled out his jack-knife, a big affair, such as many old sailors carry. One pull opened the main blade, and then old Jerry started in to do as Dick had suggested. It was no easy job and the body of the snake squirmed and whipped in every direction, lashing each on the neck and the cheek. But the head came off at last and then they left the body where it fell, and leaped out of the way of further danger.
"A close shave, lad," said the old sailor, as he peered around for more snakes.
"I — I should sa — say it wa — was," panted Dick. He was deadly pale. "I — I thought it would strangle me sure!"
"If it had got around your neck, that is what would have happened. Reckon as how we had better git out o' this neighborhood, eh?"
"Yes, yes, let us go at once," and Dick started off once more.
After that both were very careful where they stepped and kept their eyes wide open for any new danger which might arise. So they went on until they came in sight of the seashore.
"We had better say nothing about the snake," said the eldest Rover. "It will only scare the girls to death."
"No, lad, you are wrong. We must warn them of danger. Otherwise they may run into it headlong."
All of the others were glad to have them back and plied them with questions.
"So there are seven islands," said Tom. "Well, as there are seven of us, that is one island apiece. I don't think we need complain," and his jolly manner made all laugh.
When Jerry told the story about the snake Dora set up a scream.
"Oh, Dick, if it had really strangled you!" she gasped. "You must be very, very careful in the future!"
"Yes, and you must be careful, too, Dora," he answered.
"There is a nice beach right around the edge of the island," said old Jerry. "So, when we want to visit the other islands, we can walk around on the sand. That is better than climbing the hill."
"But the beach doesn't run to the other islands, does it?" asked Sam.
"No, but we can carry our rowboat around with us, to that bay between the islands. There the water is smooth enough for anybody to row in."
"The six islands are shaped exactly like a ring," said Dick. "And this island is the big stone on top."
"As the island is uninhabited I suppose we'll have to settle down and build ourselves huts or something," came from Nellie.
"To be sure. We'll be regular Robinson Crusoes," answered Tom. "Why, I can tell you it will be jolly, when we get used to it."
"Where will we build our huts?" asked Sam.
"We can build them here, if we wish," replied Dick. "But I rather favor the side fronting the other islands."
"Yes, that's the best side," said Captain Jerry. "If
