"There's a rattler in camp. Get a torch, somebody!"
Tad, who had snatched an ember from the dying campfire, was poking about
cautiously, the torch in one hand, a club in the other ready to
dispatch the reptile on sight. The Ranger who had been on guard duty
hurried in upon hearing the uproar. He said he had heard a snake just
after leaving the camp. The men jeered when they saw Stacy half way up
a small tree, peering down at them with scared eyes.
"Afraid of the snake, eh, Bugs?"
"No, I'm not afraid of any snake. I just thought I'd get out of your
way so you could work better."
The men jeered again. Morgan stepped over and gave the tree a shake,
whereat the fat boy came sliding down to the ground. The search for
the reptile was a fruitless one. After a time the Rangers turned in
again. They had not been rolled in their blankets more than five
minutes when that same fearsome, trilling hiss smote their ears again.
This time the men were mad. They declared they'd find the "pizen
critter" before ever they turned in again.
"Pile on some wood. We've got to have light here," ordered the captain.
"Where was he?"
"That's what we're trying to find out, Captain. It isn't any easy
matter to locate a sound like that. The critter may be 'most anywhere."
"Have---have you looked in your pockets?" stammered Stacy.
"Yes, maybe he's crawled in your clothes to get warm," grinned Tad.
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