54 BEYOND THE BLUE MOUNTALNS.

Lying right across the road, curled up in the sun, was a huge
snake. It stretched so completely from one side of the path to the
other that the children could not possibly pass it on either side.
They must either leave the path or step over the snake’s body.

Cowslip clutched hold of her brother’s arm in terror, and even
Clover himself, brave boy as he was, shrank back from the danger
which lay so directly across their path.

“Tt is a cobra,” he exclaimed. ‘I know it by its shape. Itisa
most dangerous snake. Cowslip, what are we to do?”

“We must turn back,” exclaimed Cowslip. ‘Those steep cliffs on
either side of the path cannot be possibly climbed by either of us,
and if we go close to the snake we meet certain death. I thought
myself brave a minute ago, but now——! Clover, what are you going
to do?”

“Tam going on,” said Clover.

* You will be killed. Oh, Clover!”

The little girl burst into sudden floods of tears.

“ T don’t think we shall either of us be killed; I don’t think some-
how that the danger is quite so great as we fear. I intend to go
on, for the simple reason that there is nothing whatever else to do.
This is the only road to the Blue Mountains, and as the King has
sent for us to come to him, I don’t suppose he will allow the
snake to harm us.”

el darensts chameees itis
frightened.”

She sat down by the side of the road as she spoke, and burst
into sudden and bitter weeping.

Clover knelt by her side, and for a long time used every means in
his power to comfort her without producing the least effect.

The little girl was trembling from head to foot, and could not for
a long time even listen to what Clover was saying. Although he spoke
very brave words, he was, it is true, very much frightened himself.
But at last, raising his head, he looked long and steadily at the horrid
black object curled up right across the path.

“The snake lies very still,’ he said to himself; “it must be

 

exclaimed Cowslip. “I am far too