144 



THE SWAN AND HER CREW. 



half rotten leaves of the previous year. In a bush through 

 which Jimmy was trying to force his way he saw a nest, which he 

 took to be a thrush's or blackbird's. He put in his hand just 

 to see if there were any eggs in, and to his surprise he felt 

 something cold and slimy. Before he could withdraw his hand 

 he felt a sharp blow and a prick on his finger, and he drew 

 back with a cry of dismay as he saw a viper uncoiling itself 

 from the nest and wriggle down to the ground, where it was 

 soon lost in the thick vegetation. Frank and Dick hurried up 

 to him, and he held out his finger, in which were two small 

 blue punctures. 



WlNCHAT AND EGG. 



" An adder has bitten me," he said, with blanched cheeks. 



Frank at once whipped out his penknife, and seizing Jimmy's 

 hand, he made a deep cross cut over the bites, and as the blood 

 began to flow, he put the finger to his mouth and tried to suck 

 the poison out with all the force of his strong young lungs, only 

 just waiting to say to Dick 



" Go at once to the village and get a bottle of olive-oil at the 

 chemist's, and come back to the cottage at the edge of the 

 wood. Be as quick as you can." 



