boat where the fish lay. Did it only want a fish 
or was it going to attack him? He knew well 
what its terrible bite would mean. A shadow 
passed over the boat, and looking up he saw a 
turkey buzzard sailing over. He was seized 
with horror. The buzzards had begun to leave 
their roost in the swamp. One after another 
they passed. With mouth open and terror in 
his heart Pete sat and watched them come by, 
fearing that among them might be the dreaded 
bell buzzard, whose ring would mean that the 
moccasin was to kill him. In his pocket was a 
rabbit foot that he carried as a charm. If any- 
thing could save him it would be this. So he 
grasped it tightly in his hand and muttered 
strange words. Not until the last buzzard 
passed and his courage returned did he again 
turn his attention to his snaky shipmate. 
“So you won’t go!” he exclaimed; “well, Ill 
fix you,” and reaching forward with his stout 
paddle he struck at it. He missed the snake, 
and the only effect of the blow was to spring a 
board in the bottom of the boat so that the 
water began to enter in a wide, thin stream. 
106 
