CREATURES OF MYSTERY 
265 
ever one chooses to call it, would instantly suggest caution. 
Men unfamiliar with the fraternity of the rattlesnake chase 
will say unhesitatingly that they hate these creatures with all 
their being, but I cannot recall that I ever heard a single indi¬ 
vidual among a score of men with whom I have hunted for 
many years ever make such statement—they do admit, how¬ 
ever, that they positively are afraid of them, and they never 
neglect their precautionary rules in which they have trained 
themselves with such painstaking care. They realize that they 
are dealing with a deadly creature. 
It appears to be a weakness in human character which influ¬ 
ences men to insist that they “hate” this man or that. This 
nation of people or that (especially when at war with them), 
or that he hates this creature or that. We usually hate indi¬ 
viduals, nations of people, or creatures we cannot stamp upon 
with impunity, or that is what the general run of men would 
have you believe. If the writer’s opinion is of any worth, I 
would suggest that such persons either consciously or uncon¬ 
sciously employ the wrong word with which to express their 
true emotions. What they really mean is that they fear such 
individuals, peoples, or creatures. A brave soldier never in¬ 
dulges in swearing at an adversary, discounting his prowess, 
or expending his reserve energy hating a brave foe. Such is 
a poor means to any laudable achievement, and an obstacle in 
the way to victory itself. 
Granting that all that has been said against the rattler is 
strictly true, and I think few would doubt it, yet there is much 
to be said in his favor. Holy Writ substantiates the contention 
of the writer that in wisdom he rates second only to man. In 
his daily observance, or non-observance of the pristine virtues, 
we owe it to him to admit that he comes out a next-best also. 
Let’s make some comparisons: 
He is clean of person, and particularly clean as concerns his 
eating habits. He eats only the choicest of food, and even then 
wants it fresh slain and steaming hot. When he has a rabbit or 
squirrel only partly swallowed and is compelled to disgorge, 
thus unsheathing his fangs for a fight with some intruder, he 
invariably goes hunting for new game. 
