rattler armed with the goodly remains 

 of a frying pan. 



The horrid thing was ready for me 

 with darting tongue and flattened head 

 another instant it would have sprung. 

 Smash on its head went my val- 

 iant frying pan and struck a deadly 

 blow, although the thing managed to 

 get from under it. I recaptured my 

 weapon and again it descended upon 

 the reptile's head, settling it this time. 

 Feeling safe, I now took hold of the 

 handle to finish it more quickly. Oh, 

 that tail that awful, writhing, lash- 

 ing tail! I can stand Indians, bears, 

 wolves, anything but that tail, and 

 a rattler is all tail, except its head. If 

 that tail touches me I shall let go. It 

 did touch me, I did not let go. Pride 

 held me there, for I heard the sound 

 of galloping hoofs. Whiskers' empty 



