Mr. Claxton's face grew grave.
"More than we want," he said. "We've cleaned out a good many nests of them, but there are still enough of them around to make it necessary to be careful. I'm glad you spoke about them, for I want to warn you boys to keep your eyes about you while you're going around the ranch. If you hear a rattle, don't stop to look. Jump back out of the way first and look afterward."
"Will they chase you?" asked Frank in an awed voice.
"No, as a rule they're perfectly satisfied to let you alone if you let them alone. But they're quick as lightning, and they've got a mighty hot temper. Every once in a while a horse or steer is bitten by one, but my men have a healthy respect for them and keep their eyes open. I haven't had a case of snakebite among them for many years past."
"You boys will be dreaming of bears and wolves and snakes if we talk about them much longer," said Mrs. Claxton, smiling on them. "And I'm going to send you off to bed. You all must be dead tired after your trip."
"It will feel good to get into a regular bed after three nights in sleeping-car berths," agreed George.
They took the lamps that were furnished by their hostess, and after a hearty good-night went up to their rooms.
"Well," said Sammy, as they were undressing, "maybe we can't take any scalps back to the boys, but I shouldn't wonder if we might get a bunch of rattles for them."
"You'll have a case of rattles yourself if you ever catch sight of a snake," joked Bob.
In reply Sammy threw a pillow at him. The others joined in and there was a spirited pillow-fight for a few minutes. But the snowy beds looked too tempting to keep away from them long, and a few minutes later all were in the happy, healthy sleep of tired boyhood.