"All right," laughed Merry. "But let's have breakfast without worrying about him."
It was necessary to drag Ready out.
"Oh, me! oh, my!" sighed Jack dolefully. "Methinks I have bestridden something that hath galled me extensively. I am likewise weary and sore in every limb and joint."
Gallup had stood the riding much better, but even he was lame.
After breakfast Frank went out and found Pablo curled in the sunshine around the corner of the hut. And not more than four feet from the Mexican lad was a rattlesnake.
The crack of the pistol in Frank's hand caused Pablo to start up with a jump. He stared in astonishment at Merry, who stood over him, holding the smoking pistol. Then he looked and saw the headless snake stretched on the ground.
"Oh, Madre de Dios!" he cried. "You shoot de snake! Mebbe you save me from de snake!"
"Perhaps so," nodded Frank, with a slight smile. "You had better be careful, for snakes are not all the dangerous things you will find on the ground."
Pablo made a spring and caught Frank's hand.