The man uttered a horrible curse, and turned a threatening face on the child. But Peggy had seen something like that in animals SHE had captured. She only said gravely,—
“Ef you shoot that gun you'll bring 'em all down on you!”
“All?” he demanded.
“Yes! a dozen folks with guns like yours,” said Peggy. “You jest crouch down and lie low. Don't move! Watch me.”
The man dropped below the stockade. Peggy ran swiftly towards the unsuspecting figure, evidently the leader of the party, but deviated slightly to snatch a tiny spray from a white-ash tree. She never knew that in that brief interval the wounded man, after a supreme effort, had possessed himself of his weapon, and for a moment had covered HER with its deadly muzzle. She ran on fearlessly until she saw that she had attracted the attention of the leader, when she stopped and began to wave the white-ash wand before her. The leader halted, conferred with some one behind him, who proved to be the deputy sheriff. Stepping out he advanced towards Peggy, and called sharply,
“I told you to get out of this! Come, be quick!”
“You'd better get out yourself,” said Peggy, waving her ash spray, “and quicker, too.”
The deputy stopped, staring at the spray. “Wot's up?”
“Rattlers.”
“Where?”