UNUSUAL EXPERIENCES AFIELD 153 



'cause us boys go snake-hunting lots of times. I 

 can get you rain." 



I answered*- "Oh, no, you can't, Billy. That is 

 a silly, old superstition." 



Shortly afterward, Billy disappeared without 

 telling me where he was going. About half past 

 three in the afternoon, he returned, an object de- 

 manding an immediate tubbing. His face was red, 

 his neck and hands brier-scratched. He was dirty 

 beyond belief, but his small features shone with 

 a look of confident triumph. 



"Now you'll get your rain," he said conclusively. 

 "I found a good big snake, and I have killed it and 

 laid it right out in the road, where everybody can 

 see it!" 



The sky was cloudless, the sun shining clear. 

 I said to him: "What nonsense! Killing a snake 

 never made rain!" 



"It didn't?" shouted Billy. "Oh, but look out 

 the window!" 



I turned to the window and to my utter confu- 

 sion saw the rain pelting down in big drops that 

 splattered on the walks as it fell straight from a 

 clear sky. 



I do not recall the exact date, but it was a season 

 from eight to ten years ago during which we ex- 

 perienced the most peculiar rainfall I ever have 

 seen. Half a dozen times during that summer rain 

 fell from a clear sky enough to wet the sidewalks 

 and grass at the Cabin, while the main street of 



