“What did you do that for, Master Nat?” he cried.
“For that,” I said, pointing, and then raising my piece to my shoulder, I fired again at something writhing and twining among the loose stones.
“Thought you meant to shoot me, sir,” said Pete, picking up the gun and covering a dint he had made in the stock, as he stared down at the object that was now dying fast. “Well, it’s of no good now. You’ve reg’larly spoiled it.”
“Do you know what that is?” I said, with my heart beating fast.
“Course I do,” he said with a laugh. “Snake.”
“Yes, the most deadly snake out here. If I had waited till you touched it you would have been stung; and that generally means death.”
“My word!” said Pete, shrinking away. “Think of it, sir! Shouldn’t have liked that, Master Nat. What snake is it?”
“A rattlesnake.”
“I didn’t hear him rattle. But I was just going to lay hold of him behind his ears and pick him up.”
“And yet uncle told you to beware of poisonous snakes.”