He and Clarence then took their rifles and advanced cautiously to the place where Hercules lay in a sound sleep. The reptile was coiled up with its head nearly touching his shoulder. Harry put the muzzle of his rifle within an inch of the snake's head and fired.
Hercules leaped up and uttered a howl. He turned round and beheld two strange men standing before him with rifles in their hands. With a wild yell of terror the giant fled across the ravine, and along a road leading over a mountain.
"Come back! come back!" shouted Toney.
But Hercules continued his flight.
"Mount that mule, Tom, and ride after him, or the fool won't stop running until he gets to Oregon," said Toney.
Tom mounted the mule, and, after a long chase, captured the giant and brought him back to camp.
"Look there!" said Tom, pointing to the decapitated serpent.
"Was that it?" said Hercules. "He's a whopper!" And he stooped down and examined the dead body of his bed-fellow.
"Eighteen rattles and a button!" said Tom.
"Which indicate that he has lived twenty-one years," said Clarence.