caught the reptile around the neck. The bright eyes
almost paralyzed his nerve, and he was compelled to turn from them in
order to accomplish his purpose.

Holding the snake with a grasp of iron, he leaped out of the circle of
reptiles. Then he bent down and forcing the snake's head against a rock,
ground it to pieces under his heel.

[Illustration: HOLDING THE SNAKE HE LEAPED OUT OF THE CIRCLE OF
REPTILES.]

It was a highly dangerous bit of work, and when it was over the great
beads of perspiration stood out on his forehead. To him it was as if the
last few seconds had been an age.

The other snakes had not followed him, but, nevertheless, he lost no
time in leaving the spot on a run. Five minutes later he was nearly a
quarter of a mile from the vicinity.

He had gone at right angles to the course he imagined would take him
back to the ranch, and now he found he must make a detour around a hill
covered with cactus and other prickly plants.

By this time Allen was thoroughly worn out and hungry to the last
degree. Bitterly he regretted the loss of his favorite mare, Lilly.

"If I had her I imagine I could strike home inside of a couple of
hours," he said to himself. "But on foot it will take me until noon or
longer."

But there was no use to grumble, and after resting a spell the young man
again started on his weary tramp through thicket and brush, over hills
and through hollows. More than once he stumbled and fell, and it was all
he could do at times to regain his feet.

"It's no fun to be afoot on the long range," he soliloquized. "A mile
seems three times as long as when on horseback."

But there was no help for it; he must go on, and on he went, his feet
now so sore in his wet boots that he could hardly take a regular step.

As he proceeded, he looked about for something to eat, but outside of a
few half-green berries, found nothing. Birds were numerous, but without
firearms they were out of his reach.

A less experienced person than Allen would have been much frightened by
the solitude and loneliness. But the young ranchman was accustomed to
being out alone for days at a time, and he did not mind it. He wished to
get home more for bodily comforts than aught else.

At last, when Allen was beginning to congratulate himself that the
roughest portion of the journey would soon be over he came face to face
with a most unexpected difficulty. Emerging from a thicket, he found
himself at the very brink of a