Suddenly I felt a movement in the straw under me and a faint rustling.

It was so soft, so sinuous, that if I had not known it was the lasso, I would assuredly have been frightened.

I gave a little jump, such as one will make quickly in bed.

Then the coil ran out from under the straw.

How subtly suggestive of a snake! I made a slight outcry, a big jump, paused a moment for effectiveness in which time Frank forgot to snore--then let out a tremendous yell, grabbed my guns, sent twelve thundering shots through the roof and pulled my lasso.
Crash! the saddle came down, to be followed by sounds not on Frank's programme and certainly not calculated upon by me.