Evening star., 1922-06-11

for very long time, and the rattlc~s
practically owned il. The days ride
| had been one Of more than fifty miles
and it had just begun TO tell on me
little, as it did on the men and other
| officers of the outfit.
My wall tent had been pitched next
TO the commanding officers while
was looking out for some wounded
men, but l was not long about IT, AID
was soon stretched out at full length
in the grateful shade afforded bv the
canvas. My head rested on my sad
die, which had been thrown Oh tie
ground. and my carbine and guns lad
been placed where 1 could readily
| seize them.
AS usual, the only part of my zig
that was discarded consisted of my
spurs and hat. So down | went, ccv
cred by thin hospital blanket.
How long slept do not now re
call, but ! do remember that i Was
gradually aroused by gentle neav-
| ing sensation on my chest, just as if
some little child had fallen asleep
beside me and rested its head there.
came to my senses without NOV
| ing a muscle, and ! realized that the
sun was well down and shining Gi-
rect in my face from the nearly open
flaps OF my tent. The peculiar heav-
ing motion on my chest increased,
and ! partly opened my eyes - :nves-
tigate the cause of ii. One may i'm
agine the effect upon me when I ass
covered that an unusually big prairie
rattler had 70 In1 its way into my
tent and lay cc,ed up on my blarke:
within a few :pci'es of my urPTo-
rected face. t was regarding RE In
the most savage manner possible and
moving its head toward and away
from me in a way that plainly moi
| Gated that it was going 10 strike
when SO inclined. There could be m
saving me should i receive a bite in
the face, as a ligature could not be
applied and the vcrom would soon
get in its work, even should lanciri;
and suction be promptly applied
| Naturally, l kept absolutely mo-
tiouless, only partly opening my eyes
from time to time, and you may be
sure that under such circuustan ,es
a minute measures up almost 10 an
entire day.
| CoMETHING was bound 20 happen
~ pretty soon-and it did! For
I once more partly opened my eyes
there stood tall cavalry sergeant In
the door of my tent, his face wearing
an expression of abject horror as he
! took in the situation. ! spoke 10 him
deliberately. with hardly a movemenf
of my lips, just loud enough for hiIH
to hear:
Keep cool. sergeant GO and fe:ch
two steady men here.
He was off in q second and back
nearly as soon with couple CT the
best men in the outfit.
Gently throw back the flaps of the
tent
| This was done, and with great de-
liberation, but | could feel that the
reptile realized that we were plan
ming something that took him
suuarely into consideration.
Now one of you men come around
back of my saddle and take lorg
time to do il. and when there face the
door of the tent. Sergeant, step
aside
/, Never were orders obeyed more i'm
plicitIy. The other man was directed
to remain at the foot, just inside the
tent.
| Now both OF you bend down very,
very gradually and get hold of the
four corners of the blanket. When 1
give a low signal, make quick run
and toss of it. Be careful not to hit
the tent pole in the doorway"
| When I was certain the blanket
was being held as 1 directed / made
a clicking sound with my tongue. and
II was wonderful to see how hand
| somely his snakeship was landed out
on the prairie several yards away
from the door of my tent, where he
was demolished and sliced up in
double-quick time.
God! lieutenant, that was mighty
close call!'
A statement In which I most en-
phatically agreed with them.