"Oh, I forgot. It's a rattlesnake. We call them sidewinders out here."
"Can you see him?"
"No, but he's right behind that rock just ahead."
As she spoke she drew a small but efficient appearing automatic from her pocket and touched Lady's sides with her heels. As the mare took a step forward the rattling sound became louder and, leaning over to one side, Bob saw an ugly head rear itself from behind the rock. At the same instant a sharp crack split the air and the head fell back.
"Got him," she cried, and they could hear a violent thrashing behind the rock.
"There may be another," Sue cautioned them, as she slipped from her horse.
She stood for a moment holding the reins in one hand and the gun in the other. "I guess he was a bachelor," she said as the sound of the writhing ceased and no more rattling was heard.
By this time the boys, too, had dismounted and, leading their horses, they followed her as she stepped toward the rock.
"All right, he's dead," she said a moment later and, stepping up a bit closer, they saw the snake stretched out at full length, which was not less than five feet and with a bullet hole through its head.
"Some snake!" Jack gasped.