ndle the one that had already been struck numerous times
by the fangs of the snake.

"Now you're going to have something worth while to mudge at, old
feller!" cried Bumpus, as he threw his pole away, and pushed a little
closer in the ring, anxious to see all that went on.

Toby was soon ready. He thrust the pole out, and all of them could
hear the sound of the concussion as the reptile struck the piece of
meat fastened at the end. It made most of the boys shudder just to
contemplate being hit such a venomous blow with all the fury of a
maddened reptile.

Again and again did Toby cause the snake to repeat the blow, turning
the meat around several ways, so that it might all be impregnated by
the virus.

"Now that's about done," he said; "and the quicker ye kill that crazy
thing the easier I'll feel. Lost a partner once when on a range
tending forests for the Government, and ever since I've got a grudge
agin rattlers."

Thereupon Bumpus once more picked up his long pole and aimed a vicious
blow at the raised head of the snake. Taking the creature fairly
across the neck he sent it spinning away.

"Look out there!" shouted Giraffe, giving a hop, skip and a jump in
another direction; "he may be playing possum on us! Keep clear of him,
everybody; and you, Bumpus, hit him again as hard as you can. It ain't
the easiest thing agoin' to kill a snake, let me tell you."

Accordingly the fat scout raised his pole, and brought it down several
times with might and main, on the neck of the fearful looking reptile;
until finally Thad declared that it was beyond ever doing any harm
again.

"And the rattle belongs to Bumpus, if he cares to claim it," said the
scoutmaster. "It isn't a pretty thing, but then every time he looks at
it, he'll be apt to remember this occasion, and can picture the camp,
the mountains, and all the rest of it."

"Including Mike and Molly, our gentle pack mules," added Giraffe;
immediately bending down to assist Bumpus secure his prize.

"Now, you see," said the guide, as he held up the piece of fresh
venison so as to show the streaks of green, where the terrible poison
had permeated it, "after they done this, the reds used to jest let the
meat lie till it was old and soft, and chuck full of pizen. Then all
they had to do was to push the point of an arrow into the same, and
dry it in the sun. But I'm told they never do such things any more,
which I take it is a good job. Thar be some things that seem t