"What d'yer say ter tryin' your hand at gettin' the pelts off en these critters?" he asked, when he returned and had placed the animals side by side. "It's best done while they're fresh."
"You're thinkin' of preservin' 'em, then?" questioned Rube.
"I'm thinkin' of mounting 'em," Kiddie answered, "but mainly for practice. I took lessons when I was in London, from the people who preserve animals for the British Museum, an' picked up a heap of wrinkles. I want ter show you how it's done."
"How d'you reckon you're goin' ter get the skin off that rattlesnake?" Rube was anxious to know.
"Well," said Kiddie, "'tain't just as easy an' simple as drawin' off your glove; but it's on the same principle."
They were engaged during the afternoon with the work of securing the skins and cleaning them. The carcases were cut up for use as bait for the traps, the traps being plentifully baited and very carefully set for the larger animals. Kiddie was again most particular in laying the gin for the same animal that had visited it and perplexed him on the previous night.
"Guess that'll sure get him, whatever he is," said Rube.
He looked round for a response in agreement with his comment, but Kiddie was not there.
"Which way've you gone, Kiddie?" he called.
But there was no answer.