106 
CREATURES OF MYSTERY 
He showed signs of genuine amazement when we inquired 
of him: “Do you believe you would have observed his move¬ 
ment had he begun crawling away under such circumstances?” 
“Most assuredly,” came his instant and emphatic reply. We 
refrained from pressing the query farther, but just the same 
we kept in mind King Solomon’s perplexity as he pondered the 
ways of the serpent. 
At the same time we were in possession of information from 
another gentleman just as well known to us, and* for whose tes¬ 
timony we are just as willing to vouch, and the two observa¬ 
tions stand opposed to each other. It is important to mention 
that in the first instance the reptile DID NOT move from the 
scene, so that the observer could not have stated with certainty 
whether or not he would have observed such movement. 
The second party to whom we refer was fishing. While 
alone, and some distance downstream from two companions, 
he came upon a large water-rattler. It appears that he had 
heard they possessed such powers, and was the type who would 
like to know for himself, so stood for quite a time looking 
upon him as hard and long as was possible without physical 
discomfort, before blinking his eyes. His companions were 
steadily approaching the spot, and as they did he called to 
them, acquainting them with the nature of his find. Coming 
up from the rear, they both remarked simultaneously, “Let’s 
kill him—he’s crawling for the water.” He maintains to this 
day that he did not observe the slightest move on the part of 
the serpent. 
It has been stated elsewhere that the serpent possesses a 
marvelous memory—never forgetting any human being with 
whom he has ever had a spirited engagement, and there is 
plenty of evidence in our possession to sustain such contention. 
While the vicious species will remember every single battle he 
ever had with man, as well as his fighting partner on such 
occasions, the non-poisonous kind will remember known friends 
and respond to their kindness as long as they live. The friend 
of whose experiences we write cultivated a very intimate ac¬ 
quaintance with a great king snake. .He worked pine timber 
about this fellow’s feeding range. The first time they met he 
