CREATURES OF MYSTERY 
213 
influence! To add to the horror that assailed the sense of 
vision, above all this tragic scene continually rose the sound of 
the serpent’s gently whirring rattles. 
“The most subtle of all the beasts of the field,” say the 
Scriptures of the serpent. The more one studies the rattle¬ 
snake, following him from place to place and observing his 
masterly cunning and self-assurance, the more one is impressed 
with his uncanny wisdom and skill in varied arts of deception 
and cruelty. Let no one discount his Satanic powers, which he 
has possessed from the very dawn of creation and developed 
through myriads of generations. From his diabolical influence 
the best assurance of safety is in flight, lest we fall into the 
error ‘of Mother Eve in the Garden of Eden. The collective 
experience of observers establishes the fact that no mortal will 
ever witness anything so nearly resembling the Black Prince 
in the flesh as when viewing a rattler successfully endeavoring 
to disarm his prey, or possibly man himself, through his power 
of fascination. 
