134 
CREATURES OF MYSTERY 
ever wrongs may be done him. They do, however, match their 
wits against men and beasts in other ways—such as may con¬ 
tribute to their mutual well-being. On one occasion early in 
our quest to uncover some of the secrets of the diamond-back, 
the writer himself was so completely outwitted that it was a 
bit humiliating. 
We might repeat that the call of the rattler is difficult to 
imitate, yet we had gathered from others a pretty good idea 
of the note should it ever be our privilege to hear one. We had 
gathered, too, that they called only at dusk and dawn. This 
was worthwhile information. At long last we heard a pair 
within three hundred feet of our residence talking to each 
other. This had been going on for a week or so before it 
finally dawned on us that it was the mating call of the rattler. 
♦See story, pages 231 to 235. 
