The sun., 1904-06-12
up and readv to strike.

up and ready to strike
"Jam yer stick on him Just enough to
hold him fast, but don't kill him. Wen
take him alive, too, fer he's good size, said
Alb Hyde.
Down on the snakes back went the
forked stick, and 1t struck him 30 hard that
the snakes mouth few open and his rattle
started to whirr its anthem Of defiance
and hate for man The snake was pris-
oner now, and the dog. knowing that hia
and watched operations,
This one was black backed rattler
He was placed in the snake box by the
same method as the first one. He was q
three-footer, but his disposition was good
deal worse than that OF the yellow backed
snake.
,.Rattlers are jest as different in dispo-
sition as folks are,' said Coggswell.
Some Of the varmints are devils, and Others
are half peaceable. There is lots Of things
human about rattlers.'
Tho toughest part Of the den was en-;
difficult, for when hunting for these reptiles
no one thinks of taking hold Of the rocks,
as there is no telling at what moment a
rattler might strike your hand:
Suddenly there was noise OF something
up and held his breath, listening.
-I've oornered one here, under q rock.
came the call
1t was Dad Barber. The snake had es-
capped his fork and managed to crawl
rock the snakes rattle could be heard
when a stick was showed into the hole
through which he had crawled
Is he big one3' asked Munroe.
.Fair,' said Dad.
The work Of prying and lifting stones
about hall finished some one slipped, and
something struck the rocks In the den a
dozen feet below. II was Perry Nickerson
who had slipped and dropped his box with
the rattlesnakes in it. Perry was scram-
bling bin M about sa to get free from M A the b bog. f9r
OF the two rattlers were already darting
over the sides OF the box.
Look out for the devilsi' yelled Coggs-
veil lsapins down on top Of the snake *
rattler over the head with his snake fork
too. Then CoggsweI slid the lid back
on the box, and the reptiles were safe once
more.
over to ASCERTAIN the extent Of his bruises.
He was not hurt badly, but got several
painful scratches from coming in contact
with the rough edges Of the rocks.
1Ill spell ye bit, y said Alb Hyde, taking
the be- snake box to carry.
the, snake boz the rattler under the nat
rock had been momentarily forgotten.
But Dash was found on guard close to the
hole when. the operation Of prying was
begun again.
Soon the rock was loosened and rolled
over. And there underneath 1t lay the
rattler in a nice little cup OF a hole that he
had no doubt slept In many nights. A
forked stick was over his neck before ho
had chance to uncoil and run. And in
three minutes he was q prisoner in the
snake box.
The hunt continued up to the top Of the
den and by that time five more rsttlers had
been killed. The hunt had lasted two
hours, and the stom machs of the hunters were
calling for something to satisfy the drain
sssnEh dsn nsi had sens In the
The start down through the den was
begun, and 1t was just about as hard
down as 1t was up. The same
care had to be exercised in going down, as
there might be rattler out summing him.
The hunters were all in a little bunch
now. sliding down over the rocks With
out word Of warning, Coggswell made q
leap to one side, yelling:
Look out! He struck at mel
struck at him and had jumped just In the
sclose cali. cogg, said Dad Barber.
Darn near got ye, Cogg.' observed
Munroe.
-Misss as good as mile, growled Cckgs-
we'll. But I'm going to Kill that devil
fer what he tried to do TO me. That's the
frst sneak rattlesnake I've seen fer good
while.
.Ye see, he didn't give bit o. warnin',
not q tarnal bit. The most Of them are
fair in fghtin'. Thets why I think the
rattler IL the gamest and fairest snake that
orawls, but sometimes ye rum aoroast .
sneak, jest like there are sneaks among
humans.
"They are the devils that stab ye IA the
back without making a whisper TO vt 70
know what's q comm. Darn his hide, any.
way. III prove that he's q sneak. A
sneak rattler ought to be tortured to death.
Hes no good. He's got yaller streak