ss of
serpents at the pool.

In a few minutes they whipped forward, Sneak in advance, and again
they were passing through the army of snakes. This time Joe did good
service. He massacred one of the coiled rattlesnakes at a blow, and
his pony kicked a puffing viper to atoms. Sneak paused a moment at the
pool, and dealt his blows with such rapidity that nearly all the black
racers that survived glided swiftly into the tall grass, and one of
the largest was seen by Joe to run up the trunk of a solitary blasted
tree that stood near the pool, and enter a round hole about ten feet
from the ground.

But if the serpents were mostly dispersed from the area around the
pool, they were by no means all destroyed; and when the equestrians
were again in the tall grass, they found them whizzing furiously about
the hoofs of their horses. Once or twice Sneak's horse sprang suddenly
forward in pain, being stung on the ham or shoulder by the tails of
the racers as they flew past with almost inconceivable rapidity.

"Oh! St. Peter! Sneak!" cried Joe, throwing back his head, and lifting
up his knees nearly to his chin.

"Ha! ha! ha! did one of 'em cut you, Joe? They hurt like fury, but
their tails ain't pisen. Look what a whelk they've made on the hoss."

"Sneak, why don't you get away from this nasty place! One of them shot
right over the pony's neck a while ago, and came very near hitting me
on the chin."

"You must hit 'em as they come. Yander comes one--now watch me!"
Saying this, Sneak turned the steed so as to face a tremendous racer
about forty paces distant, that was approaching with the celerity of
the wind with its head above the tall grass. When it came within reach
of his rod, he bestowed upon it a blow that entirely severed the head,
and the impetus with which it came caused the body to fly over the
steed, and falling upon the neck of the pony, with the life yet
remaining (for they are constrictors,) instantly wrapped in a half
dozen folds around it! Pete snorted aloud, and, springing forward, ran
a hundred paces with all the fleetness of which he was capable. But
being unable to shake off the terrible incumbrance, with his tongue
hanging out in agony, he turned back and ran directly for the horse.
When he came up to the steed, he pushed his head under his neck,
manifesting the greatest distress, and stamping and groaning as if
becoming crazed.

"Dod! let me git hold of him!" cried Sneak, bending forward and
seizing th