CREATURES OF MYSTERY 
117 
understood. Approaching a dense growth of briars he paused 
instantly as though he heard something which warranted in¬ 
vestigation. The little fellow was right—he was right in there. 
This was confirmed by the old gentleman when he, too, peered 
into the briars. Knowing that he was being pursued he tarried 
there in the hope of avoiding detection. If a fight was inevit¬ 
able, thought he, then this would not prove to be such a poorly 
chosen battlefield, or at least not so when viewed from the 
standpoint of his own needs. The little fellow scrutinized his 
husky adversary in minutest detail, then, conscious of his own 
diminutive size, backed out of what appeared to him to be a 
most unhealthy situation, leaving the scene without loss of 
time. Now, Uncle Dave was not so sure that he had seen all 
of the show. He could not believe that this little fellow would 
have expended so much energy driving this big brute to cover 
had he been utterly without plans when he found him. The 
Satanic keenness which guided him surely had not permitted 
him to overlook the one important fact that he was chasing an 
enemy ten times his own size. At any rate, he would simply 
tarry for a time. He never did like to kill one in too much 
haste, anyway—seemed to derive pleasure from contemplating 
the deed as much as by executing his designs. 
Hearing a rustling noise in the leaves behind him he looked 
backward to observe that the little fellow had returned to the 
scene after enlisting the aid of his mamma—now the battle was 
on. Of course, the charge should not be leveled at the little 
1, 2—“UNCLE DAVE” Nettles, that untutored old Master of Arts, 
fully armed, and ready for the chase. His only equipment, or weapons, 
consist of the sack, which he wears suspended at his side, flashlight, 
spade, as well as rod and noose which he holds in his right hand. 
3—So hazardous is this sport, or war (whichever one might term it) 
that he is loathe to hunt alone. On this occasion he has enlisted the serv¬ 
ices of two of his sons, six eyes being better than two. Even so, there 
is no hope whatever that this trio will see the reptile first. They are 
entering into the sand-ridge hummock land where the diamond-back 
hibernates during the cold winter months. 
4, 5, 6, 7, 8—Fully satisfied that his quarry has gone forth to sun him¬ 
self, Uncle Dave and his sons proceed to search among the palmettoes 
and other growths which might afford him shelter, combing every inch of 
the ground with care until he is located. Note the serious expressions 
on their faces—no posing for the cameraman—a single off-look at a 
critical moment and the diamond-back might chalk up a point in his own 
favor. 
