134 THE LOG OF A TIMBEE CEUISEE 



"I couldn't for the life of me make out what it 

 was, so I raised up on one elbow and as I did I see 

 a shinin' head rise up, too, right by Jenkins' face. 



"Lordy, it give me a start. 'Twas a rattler shore 

 enough, an' a plumb wicked lookin' varmint, big 

 around as my wrist. 'Twas quiled up for warmth, 

 cuddled on the edge of a blanket, snug's you please. 



"When the snake seen me move it must have got 

 scairt, for it started glidin' off silent and smooth. 

 An' I'm blessed if twan't crawlin' away from me 

 right across Jenkins 9 face. 



"He hadn't moved yet, but all of a sudden he give 

 a little start, just the littlest kind of shiver, an' then 

 lay still again. But when I looked at him now his 

 eyes was open, wide an' stary, and I knew he was 

 on to what was happenin'. 



" 'Lay still,' I whispered, * don't you move!' 



"I didn't never know whether he heered me or 

 not, because at the time he didn't have much chance 

 of showin' it ef he had an' later I forgot to ask. 

 But he shore kep' still. Didn't even wink his eyes 

 while that there big rattler was slippin'Tiis six 

 feet of scaly hide acrost his count 'nance. 



"It must 'a felt curyus while 'twas goin' on. 

 Jenkins said afterward it sounded like a big wind 

 blowin' mournful through the trees. But Jenkins 

 was always a turr'ble liar, so you couldn't depend 

 much on what he said." 



Here Bert stopped as if the tale was finished. He 



