THE STRIKE AT SHANE'S, 10 



insects — such as flies, roaches, mosquitoes, worms, aucl 

 bugs, that would destroy agricultural crops. And we 

 have been treated " — 



" Never mind how you have been treated," said Dob- 

 ])iu, "we will hear that further on, I believe your 

 statements to be true, and will allow 3^ou to remain in 

 the convention." 



"And we," said one of the snakes, "live on insects 

 the same as the toad, and assist in protecting the crops 

 from these pests." 



"Yes," said the toad, "you sometimes make a meal 

 on one of my species." 



"I admit that such things have been done, but 1 

 have never been guilty of such a crime," said the 

 snake. 



" Is not your bite poisonous, and are you not a dan- 

 gerous fellow to have about?" inquired Dobbin. 



"An entirely mistaken idea," said the snake ; '■^ there 

 is but one poisonous snake in the State, and that is the 

 rattle-snake. We do not associate with them at all. 

 Although our teeth are sharp, we have no poison fangs, 

 and our bite is no more dangerous than the prick of a 

 needle. For the proof of this I refer you to any 

 scientific investigator of the age." 



"Well, we will accept your statements as true, and 

 allow you to remain in the convention," said Dobbin. 



"Bravo ! " shouted some one in the rear, and Dobbin 

 looked around and saw a long-eared mule. 



' ' Hello ! by what right are you here ? " inquired 

 Dobbin. 



