40 
CREATURES OF MYSTERY 
discovered that one of a litter of half-grown hound pups pos¬ 
sessed real “snake-sense.” This is a rather rare occurrence, 
but occasionally a dog’s natural instinct teaches him that he is 
up against a deadly foe when he encounters his first rattler. 
So, putting this pup through a course of preliminary training 
calculated to impress upon him the dangerous character of the 
rattler, he utilized this dog in the pursuit of him. When some 
member of the family came upon one and permitted him to 
gain the underbrush, or some other impenetrable wild place, 
he would lose no time enlisting the services of his snake dog. 
By the time he scented his quarry he knew well the hazards of 
the venture upon which he was embarking and refrained from 
racing about as though he were in pursuit of a rabbit. He 
would trail quietly, treading with caution, peering behind every 
object, and listening for strange noises. His master would 
follow close behind, but would under no circumstances speak 
to the dog. He realized all too well that the hazards of the 
game required that he utilize every one of his senses to the 
utmost. Should the dog unfortunately permit himself to be 
caught off guard at a critical moment, then the decision would 
go to the rattler. He would smell as well as look into every 
single cluster of shrubs, briars, or palmettoes, prepared at all 
times to withdraw his head in haste should he observe some¬ 
thing which did not appear so inviting. By these means he suc¬ 
ceeded in chasing down many, with the aid of the dog, which 
might have eluded him had he been unaided in the chase. The 
hatred of the rattler for the dog is proverbial, and for many 
good reasons. In the first place, they are both contenders for 
the rabbits which abound in the rough fence rows and swamp 
regions, neither of them appearing disposed to yield any priv¬ 
ileges. Then, too, as the rattler views it, the dog does not 
play the game fairly. Instead of making it a fight between two 
brave and chivalrous contenders, the dog persists in keeping a 
safe distance and alarming the whole region with his barking— 
refusing to either fight or maintain silence. Finally his master 
comes to the rescue, and it develops into a one-sided battle. 
Even allowing for the dog’s advantage, in that he is able 
to summon his master when in dire distress, the results of their 
