lacked the shovel-nose and the heavy, horrid 

 jaws of the rattle-snake. But it was clean-cut, 

 with power in every line of jaw and neck ; with 

 power and speed and certainty in the pose, so 

 easy, ready, and erect. There was no fear in 

 the creature's eye, something rather of aggres- 

 siveness, and of such evil cunning that I stood 

 on guard. 



Afraid of a snake ? of a black-snake ? No. I 

 think, indeed, there are few persons who really 

 do fear snakes. It is not fear, but nerves. I 

 have tamed more black-snakes than I have 

 killed. I should not care a straw if one bit me. 

 Yet, for all of that, the meeting with any black- 

 snake is so unlocked for as always to be unnerv- 

 ing. But let a huge one whip about you in the 

 brake, chill you with an unearthly hissing 

 whistle, then suddenly rise in front of you, 

 glittering, challenging, sinister ! You will be 

 abashed. I was ; and I shall never outgrow the 

 weakness. 



It was a big snake. I had not been mistaken 



in its size. There is nothing on earth that 



shrinks as a dead snake ; and this one, so far as I 



know, is still alive ; yet, allowing generously for 



[152] 



