CREATURES OF MYSTERY 
121 
his tail at a point within a foot or two of the diamond-back. 
The king snake had worked out every detail with such con¬ 
summate skill that when the diamond-back turned quickly to 
face the supposed menace, the side of his head and neck were 
exposed to the real menace. By such act the rattler signed his 
own death warrant. The king snake, finding his opening, you 
can always depend upon him not to overlook it. 
Once having taken up the sword in his war against rattlers, 
it appeared that he would never again have need of the scab¬ 
bard. The only truce Uncle Dave ever knew, which, after all, 
was no truce at all, was during that brief interval of time elaps¬ 
ing between his last battle and the date another rattler dared 
cross his path. 
It was a fine spring day. The sun had dissipated the last 
cold winds of winter, and the old gentleman felt that urge ex¬ 
perienced by all farmers on such occasions. He was moved 
by that irresistible prodding to survey his fields and do some 
planning for the forthcoming year. On one side of his field 
adjacent to a small river bordering his plantation was a piece 
of waste land which had never proved profitable when planted 
to the usual crops. For a number of years it had been aban¬ 
doned with the result that it had grown over with broomsedge, 
gall shrubs, sumac, and every species of noxious weeds and 
shrubs. It was neither a stream nor a pond, but rather a de¬ 
pression between the hills, leading out from the river, and 
terminating as a springhead at the foot of the hills which were 
being cultivated. Throughout the greater portion of the nor- 
1, 2—While Uncle Dave is practically fearless, insofar as the diamond- 
back is concerned, yet he does not deliberately go courting disaster. He 
realizes all too well that his enemy is a genius at camouflage, and that 
the best trained eye may, at times, overlook him when within plain view. 
To offset such danger he usually works with another member of the 
party, trusting an assistant to guard over him while peering into the 
hole. 
3—A mere glance at the photograph would convince anyone of the 
wisdom of such policy. Ofttimes they dash with amazing speed for their 
hide-out and would not hesitate to brush against the old gentleman’s face, 
if such were necessary to gain admission to their holes. 
4, 5, 6—Once he has his quarry definitely located he proceeds to subdue 
him with whatever tools the situation demands. If outside the hole 
sunning he utilizes his rod and noose. If in the gopher’s hole then the 
spade is brought into play. 
