CREATURES OF MYSTERY 
133 
been slain it was not necessary to take a second look. The male 
of the pair had already arrived upon the scene, and was lying 
by the side of the dead one, stretched out to his full length, 
parallel with the dead, apparently mourning the loss. 
Acquainted as he was with their nature and habits in the 
wild state, it was quite easy to understand how this fellow came 
to know of the tragic death of his mate, even prior to that hour 
of the day when they exchange calls. Before being killed she 
had been thoroughly angered, vibrating her rattles with such 
intensity that the sound of them could have been heard several 
hundred feet away. It was evidently heard by the surviving 
member of the pair, and no sooner than the man had passed 
on, the survivor crept up to the scene of the battle to ascertain 
if the worst had happened. 
For the reason that so little is known of the rattler, even 
by people who have lived in infested territory all of their lives, 
a myth has been current for generations that the rattler has a 
pilot, very much the same as the crows will send a lone mem¬ 
ber ahead for the purpose of drawing the fire of the hunter 
should one be concealed from view, directly in line with the 
flight of the flock. Such an idea, of course, is wholy erroneous, 
inasmuch as they do not travel together, neither follow each 
other’s trails as a habit. By remaining separated they enjoy 
the added advantage of greater security. If one be killed the 
other will survive. It is a fact worth noting in passing that 
they never come immediately to each other’s aid when men¬ 
aced—each fights his own battle, unaided—each avenges what- 
1, 2, 3, 4, 5—These are characteristic poses of Uncle Dave when he 
has one securely looped and ready to be bagged. 
6, 7—These photos represent a normal day’s catch, when, as Uncle 
Dave says,—“They’re biting good.” Sixty feet of silent, creeping death. 
They might easily have destroyed one thousand dollars worth of cattle 
in a single summer had not Uncle Dave and his “Suicide Squad” come 
along.* 
8—Occasionally it so happens that he has no bag convenient when he 
has made a fine catch, but this occasions him no worry. He simply locates 
them a warm spot in the sunshine and leaves them secured to the pole 
with which they were noosed, continuing his hunt for miles up the creek, 
gathering them up on his return. For some reason, unknown, they ap¬ 
pear little disposed to attempt a “jail-break.” 
Then again he ties their heads to a short stick, as illustrated, and 
carries them along as he would a suit-case. 
*See photographs, page 132. 
