Calumet's snarl deepened, he dug a spur into the pony's left flank, and pulled sharply on the left rein.

The pony lunged, swerved, and presented its right shoulder to the swaying reptile, its flesh quivering from excitement.

Then the heavy revolver in Calumet's hand roared spitefully, there was a sudden threshing in the dust of the trail, and the huge rattler shuddered into a sinuous, twisting heap.

For an instant Calumet watched it, and then, seeing that the wound he had inflicted was not mortal, he urged the pony forward and, leaning over a little, sent two more bullets into the body of the snake, severing its head from its body.
"Man's size," declared Calumet, his snarl relaxing.

He sat erect and spoke to the pony: "Get along, you damned fool! Scared of a side-winder!" Relieved, deflating its lungs with a tremulous heave, and unmindful of Calumet's scorn, the pony gingerly returned to the trail.