144 
CREATURES OF MYSTERY 
They possess, in their brawny, loathsome form, strength 
comparable with that of the right arm of a pugilist. The 
sound of a rattler’s thrust defies imitation. When one is thor¬ 
oughly enraged and almost completely uncoils in a determined 
effort to reach an enemy with his fangs—well, the sound effect 
is such that the reader would rather not hear or remember. 
So, as we review the results of Uncle Dave’s war, which has 
been a truceless one during the last twenty years, we take note 
of the following salient points: One son was lost by reason of 
the bite of a rattler. This, of course, very largely determined 
whether or not there would be war or peace between the Net¬ 
tles clan and the diamond-backs. Another son received an in¬ 
jection of deadly venom which would have killed the average 
person, but maintaining perfect calm in the face of an exciting 
situation, he so thoroughly performed a crude operation, 
thereby removing the venom, that he suffered little physical 
discomfort as a result of the bite. One attack following an¬ 
other finally terminated in war under a black flag. Of course, 
the third son, who came so dangerously near being bitten while 
holding the bag for his father—well, that little incident didn’t 
figure in the declaration of hostilities one way or the other. 
He was fighting in self-defense, consequently justified in mak¬ 
ing the attack, even in sight of the father and other brothers. 
It did teach them one thing, however, and that was that their 
previous practice of holding the bag with bare hands was too 
dangerous to continue in vogue. Thereafter they resorted to 
the use of an oak limb or shrub two or three feet in length. 
By leaving a spur or hook on the end of such limb the sack can 
be held with the aid of the hook, thus permitting them to stand 
a safe distance. Following this attack in which the rattler 
came so near scoring a decision his son entered into a truce 
with them. A fourth son will not admit failing courage, but 
note has been taken of the fact that it is scarcely, if ever, con¬ 
venient for him to go along with the party. When such diplo¬ 
matic excuse as he may render has been heard by the old gen¬ 
tleman and his depleted little army the undaunted members 
pass the “wink” around, and then proceed merrily on their 
way. For a time it had the appearance that Uncle Dave was 
