IN GREAT DANGER
The red tongue of the diamond back swept in and out of his mouth like
lightning.
"I'd hate to have that thing sting me!" exclaimed Bob.
"That wouldn't hurt you if it did," explained Hank. "It ain't with that
red tongue uv his he does the damage. His fangs are hollow an' there's
a pizen bag at the roots of 'em. When he bites, the pizen is squeezed
into them holler fangs an' thet's what sends you to kingdom come."
"I suppose it's sure death if you're once bitten," remarked Sammy.
"Wall, you might as well say good-bye," replied Hank, "especially with
a big feller like this. Sometimes a man gits over it but he ain't
ginerally much good fur the rest of his life."
"But I've got to go down to the corral now to look after my horses,"
Hank continued. "I'll be back in about ten minutes. In the meantime you
kin be makin' friends with this feller. He seems to hev a right sweet
disposition."
"He'll be right here when you come back," laughed George. "There isn't
any one of us who wants to steal him to make a pet of him."
Hank went away, and again the boys turned their attention to the
wriggling reptile.
"I've been half wanting to see one of these fellows out on the ranch,"
remarked Sammy; "but now I guess I don't. It's plenty good enough to
see him in this strong box."
"I guess Hank has got him fastened in pretty tight," observed Bob.
"Sure he has," replied George, pointing to a hasp and staple that held
the cover down. "He's as safe here as he would be in a cage at the
menagerie."
In their eagerness to study the monster, Frank leaned too heavily on
the edge of the small table on which Hank had set the box. There was a
startled exclamation from the other boys as the table went over with a
crash, putting out the candle and sending the box with a thud against
the door.
"That was a clumsy thing to do, Frank," said his brother, in vexation.
"Pick up that candle and I'll light it. Hurry now, so that we can see
what we are doing."
With trembling fingers Frank picked up the candle and George struck a
match and started to light it. But what he saw made him drop the candle
with a wild yell.
The fall had broken the hasp on the box and the cover was released. And
what George and the other boys saw was _a huge gray body already half
way out of the box!_
For an instant they seemed stricken with paralysis. Then with frantic
shouts they leaped for the nearest bunks.
"Get into the top bunk, boys," screamed George.
In a flash they were all in the upper bunks, where for the moment they
could take breath. But none of them felt that they were safe. They
didn't know but what the snake at any moment might wind its way up the
supports on which the bunks were built. They could feel their hair
rising on their heads with horror.
Now that the candle was extinguished, the whole bunk-house was in
perfect darkness. They listened fearfully. Every thing was still as
the grave except for the sibilant hiss and angry rattle that came to
their ears as the enraged reptile ranged around the room, seeking some
means of escape.
Then the rattling ceased and all they could hear was a dull gliding
movement as the slimy body dragged itself over the floor.
It would have been a hideous situation for much older people than the
four boys, and it is no wonder that they were terrified.
"What shall we do?" asked Frank, his teeth chattering.
"Keep perfectly still," commanded George, though his nerves were in not
much better shape than his brother's. "The snake can't see us, and if
you keep quiet he won't know where we are."
"If Hank were only back," moaned Bob.
"He will be back in a few minutes," whispered George. "And when we hear
him coming we must warn him. He might come in and find himself right on
top of the snake."
The next few minutes seemed like so many ages to the boys. Then they
heard Hank coming. He was whistling, but the whistle suddenly stopped
when he saw that there was no light in the bunk-house. At the same
moment the boys raised their voices in a shrill yell of warning.
"Don't open the door, Hank!" shouted George. "The snake has got out of
the box."
Hank gave a startled exclamation, and if they could have seen his face
they would have seen that it had become the color of chalk.
"Are any uv you boys hurt?" he queried, in a voice that was hoarse and
unnatural.
"No," answered George. "We're all safe in the upper bunks. The snake is
somewhere on the floor."
Hank's heart gave a great bound of relief.
"Stay jest where you are till I kin git a flashlight," he commanded.
"I've got one down at the corral."
There was no need of the injunction to stay just where they were. It
would have taken an earthquake to jar them from their lofty perches.
In a minute more they could hear Hank come running back.
Then a bright light flashed through the window and traveled over the
floor. The boys watched its progress with wide-open eyes.
At first it failed to reveal what it sought, and the boys trembled as
they thought that the snake was possibly somewhere in the bunks. But
a moment later there was a shout from Hank and the diamond back stood
out plainly. He was coiled in a corner of the room and was striking out
savagely at the light that blinded him.
Holding the flashlight steady in his left hand, Hank, with his right
hand, pulled his revolver from his belt and fired. There was a
splintering of glass and the bullet went straight and true, striking
the reptile's head and shattering it to bits.
The great coils relaxed and there was a tremendous thrashing as the
snake's body beat against the floor. Then Hank flung open the door and
rushed in. He put two more bullets into the snake to make perfectly
sure. Then with trembling hands he struck a match and lighted the
candle.
"Come down now, boys," he called and there was a great thanksgiving in
his tone. "This old rascal is settled fur fair. He won't never rattle
again."
The boys almost fell down rather than climbed down from their place of
refuge.
"It was all my fault," said Frank. "I leaned too heavily on the table
and upset it."
"It was my fault more than yours," said Hank, soberly. "I never ought
to hev left you kids alone fur a minute with that old lump of pizen."
At this moment, Mr. Claxton, alarmed by the sound of the shooting,
hurried into the bunk-house.
"What's all this?" he asked as he approached the group.
They separated, and he started back when he saw the lacerated head and
body of the snake.
"None of you boys is hurt?" he asked with an anxious look around.
"Only scared," replied George, with what he tried to make a smile.
"How did this happen?" asked Mr. Claxton.
Hank told the whole story. Mr. Claxton was at first inclined to blame
him severely, but forbore on account of the masterly way in which Hank
had handled the situation.
"Well, I guess you boys have had enough of rattlesnakes as long as you
live," remarked Mr. Claxton, turning to the boys.
There was an emphatic agreement.
"Once is enough for me," said George.
"Never again!" remarked Bob.
"Not even a stuffed one for me!" declared Frank.
"I'd like to have those rattles though," said Sammy, looking at the
nine rattles that would never sound again.
"I guess you can have them all right," replied Mr. Claxton. "Hank will
cut them off and cure them for you. But come along now and get to bed.
If ever you youngsters needed a good long rest you need it now."