150 
CREATURES OF MYSTERY 
when trailing rabbits or other game. This gives them a decided 
advantage over the rabbit. Before th£°latter is aware that a 
dangerous enemy is upon his heels he is compelled to flee for 
his life. With ears lying flat upon his back, he goes bounding 
for the first hollow log, tree, or maybe gopher hole available 
to him. Then guarding the doorway, he summons his master 
by barking. 
Pee Wee had been a busy little dog during the forenoon. 
Late in the afternoon his master heard Pee Wee barking vio¬ 
lently. Something seemed to tell the old gentleman that it was 
not a rabbit this time—the intonation of the dog’s bark was 
different. He was sure that he held somethng at bay, though 
there had been no chase as a prelude to his present distressing 
yelping. He would go and see presently, but just now he must 
finish working out a large cluster of trees already partially 
chipped. Just at this instant he heard the little dog utter a 
cry as though some dreadful pain had been inflicted upon him, 
and presently the little dog came running to him from over the 
hill to lie down at his feet whining. Stooping low to look, he 
observed that he had fallen victim to a diamond-back’s fangs, 
so he judged by the wounds upon his forehead. Judging by 
the dog’s reaction to the venom he realized that it would all 
be over with presently, so he would remain with the little 
doggie. Later he would go forth and avenge himself upon the 
perpetrator of this dastardly deed. As the dog lay at the old 
gentleman’s feet, unconscious, and before life had departed, 
he took notice of something he had never before observed. He 
had been told by others that victims of the bite would, after 
lapsing into a state of unconsciousness, writhe somewhat after 
the manner of the reptile. As he stood observing he took note 
of wrinkles forming along the body of the dog, moving in the 
direction of his nose, an imitation of breakers rolling in upon 
a sandy beach. Though not a matter of common knowledge, 
this rather accurately described the behavior of the rattler’s 
skin as he is in motion. Though most snakes travel with a 
wriggling motion, such is not the case with the rattler. He is 
capable of crawling as straight as the flight of the crow, but 
if one will observe with care he will discover that the skin 
