?" asked Jerry, as Ned was

ttl

ttl

of 'em. And they seem

r fast, too. I guess we'd better get out of here. Cattle on the prairies don't like to see persons who are not on

ction," remarked Bob. "It's going t

of here," advised Ned

said than done,

hrough them. If we go too close we may stampede 'em at once, wherea

ob. "Why don't they head the animals the othe

of the herd," said Jerry. "The cowboys can't se

them go in a cir

stock, or something like that," was Jerry's answer. "But, instead of standing he

jumping bug in the grass, had lost all interest in the

aid, making a grab for t

better do?" asked Ned. "

hy, they are getting a litt

broke into awkward gallop. As far as the boys could see, they beheld nothing but waving tails, heaving heads,

ng, his eyes fixed on the ground, in search for another of the

igh and shrill above the dull rumble of th

a " excla

s hole," added the professor. "I nearly stepp

the edge of what is called a prairie dog village, they saw an ugly wiggling mass, which, as th

abit, sounded their rattles. This had aroused the whole den, many

y'll chase us

too close, but, as long as we don't molest them, we have nothing to fear from the snakes. I'd like to get a few specimens if I had

for the thunderous noise of the

right at us!"

mpeded!" cried Ned. "

The circle had been broken, by many animals, which had been approaching from the rear of the travelers, joining the beasts o

"There's an opening

see if we can't frighten 'em. Take off your hats, jump up and down, and yell like m

and prepared to let out a series of ye

ed the profe

erry. "It's the on

tween ourselves and the cattle! Those steers will never go near a rattlesnake den,

ng to which they were unaccustomed, and which thoroughly frightened them. The ground was trembling with thei

e nest of rattlesnakes between them and the steers. Ned and Jerry followed. The snakes, n

o trample down the little group, which the animals probably took for some new species of enemy? Th

They tried to stop short, but the press of the beasts behind them would not permit of this. For a few seconds it

m the terrible danger that was in their path. More of the animals braced their forelegs to bring themselves to a stop, and all bellowed in terror. Then, al

e professor stood on the little eminence of land, as if they were on an island in a sea of cattle. The angry snakes hissed and rat

ed together. Then, the last of the steers galloped past, with a band of excited cowboys in the rear, vainly endeavoring to unders

the steers and cowboys was lost in a cloud of dust that accom

r anything," remarked Ned, as he backed away, with his eyes

r snake in this country, I believe," said the

nd soon, with the three boys, he was on his way back to the stalled train, though he did no

ey were not the only ones in this predicament, for a number of the passenge

wiches, and then we'll watch 'em get the