32 
CREATURES OF MYSTERY 
into the woodland to investigate the cause of his trouble. He 
came upon the rabbit crouching before a great cone-shaped 
growth of wiregrass, trembling and crying, but seemingly un¬ 
able to move out of his tracks. Looking upon the top of this 
growth of grass was the head and a portion of the fore part 
of a great gopher snake with his black, beady eyes focused 
upon the eyes of his little victim. Neither of them seemed con¬ 
scious of the presence of the third member of this “murder- 
party.” Picking up the rabbit in his hands, it had the appear¬ 
ance that its mental balance was immediately restored, the 
spell being broken no sooner than his eyes were taken off his 
tormentor. Being deposited upon the ground again he left 
the spot with the proverbial speed of the hare. 
Of all incidents ever reported to the writer, it is considered 
that the following presents the most convincing proof that the 
diamond-back stands without a peer as a hypnotist, among 
either the beasts of the field, or members of the human family. 
Except naturalists and zoologists be as obstinate as the broth¬ 
ers of Dives, then they will readily accept this as positive proof 
of our contention. The incident occurred not more than three- 
fourths of a mile from the residence of the writer. The parties 
to whom we are indebted for the story have been known to us 
since childhood, consequently the writer needs no one to vouch 
for their absolute trustworthiness. 
Our informants, a young couple, lived in a cottage by the 
side of a sand-graded road. Between the front yard and the 
roadbed there was quite a growth of green weeds, briars, and 
grass. The front yard was covered with a light growth of 
grass except for the walk leading from the front gate to the 
doorsteps. The wife had been alone for quite a time. Mention 
is made elsewhere that the rattler will not hesitate to venture 
about the premises of man when they know for sure that it is 
guarded only by the womenfolk and small children. 
The husband returned, finally, with an automobile truck and 
unloaded some heavy articles among the weeds by the side of 
the road and directly in front of the house. Having finished 
with the task he drove away to another part of the plantation. 
During his brief absence his wife chanced to walk out and sit 
