Finding  himself  with  the  noose  firmly  about  his  neck,  he  strug¬
gled  with  more  determination  than  any  rattler  the  old  gentle¬
man  had  ever  encountered,  finally  breaking  the  string  with
which  he  was  bound.  Now  he  was  thoroughly  enraged  over
the  very  thought  that  any  man  would  attempt  to  thus  humble
his  pride.  Rearing  his  head  to  a  height  of  two  feet  or  more,
he  began  singing  his  rattles  violently,  while  weaving  back  and
forth  in  a  most  menacing  manner,  in  the  face  of  which  Uncle
Dave  gave  ground  until  he  could  prepare  another  noose.  Re¬
turning  to  the  fray,  the  old  gentleman  soon  had  him  in  harness
again.  He  struggled  and  thrashed  the  ground  with  such  violence
that  he  broke  off  fully  one-half  of  his  long  string  of  rattles,  but
all  to  no  avail.  Feeling  that  he  now  had  him  somewhat  subdued,
Uncle  Dave  commenced  dragging  him  toward  an  open  spot
of  ground,  but  little  realizing  the  thoughts  that  were  taking
definite  form  in  the  old  wizard’s  mind.  Passing  between  two
large  shrub  oaks,  the  rattler  suddenly  threw  his  giant  form
into  a  broad  “S,”  thus  binding  his  body  between  the  two  oaks.
