"There 's a big lake up in the
hills, and they 've piped the water down here. It 's got a force like
a cannon, and that fellow--I don't know whether it is Herndon or
not--is screwing on the hose connection. I bet your Mr. Moffat gets a
shock!"
"It's a perfect shame, an outrage! I 'm going to tell him."
Naida caught her sleeve firmly, her eyes full of laughter. "Oh, please
don't, Miss Spencer. It will be such fun. Let's see where it hits
him!"
For one single instant the lady yielded, and in it all opportunity for
warning fled. There was a sharp sizzling, which caused Moffat to
suspend his serenade; then something struck him,--it must have been
fairly in the middle, for he shut up like a jack-knife, and went
crashing backwards with an agonized howl. There was a gleam of shining
water, something black squirming among the weeds, a yell, a volley of
half-choked profanity, and a fleeing figure, apparently pursued by a
huge snake. Naida shook with laughter, clinging with both hands to the
sill, but Miss Spencer was plainly shocked.
"Oh, did you hear what--what he said?" she asked. "Was n't it awful?"
The younger nodded, unable as yet to command her voice.
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