Jack stooped to grab up a stone, but no sooner had his fingers touched it than he called out: 

“There!  I forgot all about the stones here being heavier than lead.  Guess we can’t throw any of ’em.  But come on.  I’ll race you to the dead tree!”

Mark was willing, so the two boys set off at a fast pace.

“Look out where you’re going!” the professor called after them.  “No telling what may be in those woods,” for the boys were approaching a little glade, on the edge of which the dead tree stood.

Jack reached the goal first, and stood leaning against the trunk, waiting for Mark.

“You’d better practice sprinting!” exclaimed the victor.

Mark was about to excuse himself for his poor showing, on the plea of having eaten too much breakfast, when to his horror he saw what seemed to be a long thin snake spring out from the branches of a nearby tree and twine itself about Jack.

“Help me!  Save me!” cried the unfortunate boy, as he was lifted high into the air and pulled within the shadow of the wood.

For an instant Mark was too horror-stricken to move.  Then with a shout that alarmed the others, who were coming along more slowly, he made a dash for the place he had last seen Jack.

Had old Andy not been on the watch, with those keen eyes of his, there might have been a double tragedy.  He had seen from afar the sudden snatching up of Jack, and noted Mark’s rush to save his chum.

“Stand still!  Don’t go in there for your life!” yelled the hunter, at the same time running forward with gun ready.

His example was followed by the professor, Washington and the other two men.

“A snake has Jack!” called Mark, when Andy was at his side.

“No!  It’s not a snake!” replied the hunter.  “It’s worse.  It’s the snake-tree!”

“What’s that?” asked Mr. Henderson, hurrying up.

“The snake-tree has Jack,” the hunter went on.  “It is a plant, half animal, half-vegetable.  It has long branches, not unlike a snake in shape.  They can move about and grab things.”

“One of them got a grip on Jack as he leaned against the dead tree trunk.  I just caught a glimpse of it, and called to prevent Mark from running into danger.”

“Can’t we save him?” asked Mr. Henderson.

“I’m going to try!” replied Andy.  “Quick!  Gather up some pieces of dry wood.  I have some paper, and my pipe lighter.  We must fight the snake-tree with fire!”

CHAPTER XXIII

 The deserted village

Jack’s Cries were growing fainter and fainter.  Peering in through the branches of the dead tree the professor could see the whip-like limbs winding closer and closer about the boy.

“I am afraid we will be too late!” he said.

Andy had twisted some paper into a rude torch.  He set fire to it with his pocket lighter, and, when Bill and Mark brought him some little pieces of dead wood the old hunter added them to his bundle, which was now blazing brightly.