52 
CREATURES OF MYSTERY 
They have been known to dodge the blow aimed at them 
and slither up the pole to the very hands of his assailant before 
the latter discerned fully what was happening. By forming 
his body into two or more “S’s”, climbing with his tractor grip 
and slithering at the same time, he managed to span the dis¬ 
tance in the twinkling of an eye, maintaining his balance upon 
the pole in the process. 
It is quite evident that few people are aware of the speed 
of many species of reptiles. Even experts are very easily de¬ 
ceived. One observer, whom I have no reason whatever to 
doubt, related having seen a coachwhip outdistance a hare in 
a fair foot race. As the hare passed him he realized that he 
was, or appeared to be, in grave danger. The color of the 
snake blended with that of the dead crab-grass littering the 
field in which he was working at the time. The above factors, 
combined with the speed at which this slender snake was mov¬ 
ing, proved to be just too much for his eyes—he simply did 
not see him. Soon the rabbit stopped and commenced crying. 
Then his mere suspicions became a grim reality—the coach- 
whip had him wrapped all about. 
Insofar as Uncle Dave’s experience with them, and the ex¬ 
perience of his boys, it has been much safer hunting them than 
leaving them alone. Two were bitten before his declaration 
of war, and none since, and it might be added that the closest 
shave the old gentleman ever experienced was while he was 
engaged in a perfectly peaceful pursuit. However, he makes 
no denial of the fact that on more than one occasion he has 
been literally fanned by the breeze from off “Old Father 
Time’s” whiskers. 
Once, in the process of clearing up the opening to one of 
these holes, he raked the leaves off one’s back with ungloved 
hands. On another occasion, while in a sitting position, dig¬ 
ging for one, he arose to find himself sitting upon the one for 
which he was digging. 
Again, thinking the one he was trailing to be in the hole, he 
lay down upon him, and the rattler did not register the slight¬ 
est displeasure at the presence of his uninvited bedfellow. 
He and a fellow worker were busily engaged blazing a trail 
