A LIVELY CHASE

for it and cried: Well, Im a second cousin to a ham sandwich Whered you fellows come from We
havent come were just
going laughed Bud. Were going over to see Dad and the folks. How are they all Oh, theyre sittin pretty
Sittin pretty
affirmed Slim Degnan, with a mingled smile and g rim. Howd you fellows come out with your spring
round up Pretty
fair, admitted Bud. A few steers short of what we figured on, but thats nothing. I should say not chuckled
Slim. Your
paw was a heap sight worse offn that. Rustlers again asked Nort quickly, as he and his brother glanced at
one another.
They had not forgotten the stirring times when they were on the trail of the ruthless men who had raided
Diamond
ranch, and their own cattle range. No, nothing like that, answered Slim easily. Just natural depravity, so to
speak. Some
of em ate loco weed and others jest got too tired of living I reckon. But we come out pretty fair. Just got
last bunch
shipped, an Im mighty glad of it. I Same here spoke Dick. Thats why we came over here on a sort of
vacation. I reckon
some other folks is headin this way on same sort of ideas, remarked Slim Degnan, as he rolled a cigarette
with one hand,
a t rick for which the boys had no use, thought they could but admire the skill of the foreman. What do
you mean asked
Bud. Is Dad going to take a vacation If he does Dont worry, son Dont worry laughed Slim, as he ignited
a match by the
simpe process of scratching the head with his thumb nail. Cattle will have to fetch a heap sight moren
they do now
when he takes a few days off, declared the foreman. What I meant was that some tenderfeet individuals
are headin Slim
did not finish the sentence for the was nearly th rown from his saddle (something most unusual with him)
as his pony gave
a sudden leap to one side, following a peculiar noise in a bunch of grass on which the animal almost
stepped. The noise
was not unlike that made by a locust in a t ree on a hot day, but there was in the vibrations a more sinister
sound. And
well did slims horse know what it indicated. A rattler yelled Bud, and close on the heels of his words
followed action.
He whipped out his there was a sliver of flame, a sharp crack at which the three steeds of the t rio of
youthful cowboys
jumped slightly, and there writhed on the trail a venomous rattle snake, its head how a shapeless mass
where the bullet
from Buds gun had almost obliterate it. Whew A big one exclaimed Slim, who had quickly gotten his
pony under
control again, and turned it back toward the scene of action. It spoke well for his ability that he had not
lost his
cigarette, and was puffing on it, though the sudden leap of his steed, to avoid a bite that probably would

have meant
death, had jarred the words f from his mouth. First of the season, added Bud, slipping his gun back into
the holster. Are
they more poisonous then than at other times asked Nort. Guess there is nt much difference, son,
affirmed Slim. I dont
want to be nipped by one at any time. Much obliged, Bud, he said, easily enough, though there was a
world of meaning
in his voice. I shore plum would hate to have to shoot Pinto, and thats what Id a done if that serpent had
set its fangs
in his leg. Whyd he shoot him asked Dick, for he and his brother, though far removed from the
tenderfoot class, were not
wise to all western ways yet. There is nt much chance for a horse after its been bit deep by a rattler. Bud
explained. Of
course I dont say every horse thats bitten will die, but its harder to doctor them than it is a man. And
Slim meant he
wouldnt want to see Pinto suffer. Youre right there, But drawled Slim Degnan. They do say this new
fangled
treatment is bettern whisky for snake bites, but I dont reckon I want to chance it. The permanganate of
potash is
almost a sure cure fo r the ordinary snake bite, if you use it in time, declared Bud. But I dont know that it
would work
after a fer de lance set his fangs into you. Anyhow Im glad we havent anything worse than rattlers and
copperheads
around here. I Theyre bad enough affirmed Slim, as he gave a backward glance towards the still w
rithing form of the big
rattler, which was now past all power of doing harm. The incident seemed to cause the foreman to for get
what he had
been about to say when his horse shield, and the boy ranchers, by which title is indicated Bud, Nort and
Dick, did not
attach enough importance to it to cause them to question their companion. Yet what slim had been about
to say was
destined to have a great influence on their lives in the immediate fut ure, and was to cause them to ride
forward into
danger. But then danger was nothing new to them. Well, things are right peaceful since we got rid of Del
Pinzo and his
gang of greasers, observed Slim, as he rode on with the body down the t rail that led to Diamond ranch,
the property of
Buds father. But Im always wo rrying fo r fear theyll come back, or well have some sort of trouble
with our cattle,
observed Dick. It doesnt seem possible that over at our Happy Valley ranch well be let alone to do as we
please. Don t
cross bridge until you hear the rattling of the planks parah rased North to his brother. Were all right so
far. Yes, things
are sitting right pretty for the present, declared Slim. Well, here we are, he added, as a turn of the trail
brought them
within sight of the corrals and other parts of Diamo nd ranch. And theres your folks, he added, as a

woman and girl,

standing in the yard of a red ranch house, began to wave their hands to the boys. I see Dad exclaimed
End. Where asked
Nort. Over by the p ny co rral, talking to Yellin Kid. Looks like Kid just came in with the mail. He started
after it when
I rode out to look for a couple of strays, said Slim. Beckon he jest come back. You boyll hear more pa
rticlars now, I
reckon. Particulars of what asked Nort. Was that what you started to say when Bud shot the rattler Slim
did not

CONFIDENTIAL 1388