"Look at his eyes!"
Hank looked on, grinning with satisfaction at the sensation his find had caused.
"Where did you get him, Hank?" asked George.
"Picked him up down the trail a piece," was the reply. "I was drivin' along when I seen him coiled up in the middle of the trail. I though first I'd get down an' break his back with my whip. Then I thought thet you kids might like to hev a squint at him. So I kept him striking at the end of my whip till I hed a chanst to pin his head down with a forked stick. I hed a bag in the wagon an' I jest chucked this feller into it and brung him along. This box is one thet hez held snakes before but it's never held a bigger one than this."
And as the boys stared at the writhing monster they could readily believe him.
CHAPTER XIII
IN GREAT DANGER
The red tongue of the diamond back swept in and out of his mouth like lightning.
"I'd hate to have that thing sting me!" exclaimed Bob.
"That wouldn't hurt you if it did," explained Hank. "It ain't with that red tongue uv his he does the damage. His fangs are hollow an' there's a pizen bag at the roots of 'em. When he bites, the pizen is squeezed into them holler fangs an' thet's what sends you to kingdom come."