ops. A long neck slowly
lifted itself and two baleful eyes fixed upon Roldan. He raised his
pistol, and the rattler was beheaded as neatly as if it were stuffed
and dismembered with a pen knife. It shot out to full length, and the
clever marksman took it by its horny tail and dragged it to the fire.

"He didn't know that we'd have him for supper," said Adan, gleefully.
"Here, let us eat our steak and then I'll skin him."

The steak proved tough, and when it had been disposed of with many
grumblings, the rattlesnake was skinned and roasted, and proved very
delicate and edible.

"Now," said Roldan, "we must sleep." Their clothes being dry they
dressed; and after inspecting with a torch a circle of about two
hundred yards to see that there were no snake holes, they built a hasty
ring of chaparral, set fire to it that beasts and reptiles should keep
their distance, then lay down and slept. Roldan was always a light
sleeper, and with the fire on his mind awoke every few hours and
gathered fresh chaparral or roused the heavier Adan. Coyotes wailed in
the distance, and once as Roldan gathered brush he heard again the
deadly rattle. But they were not disturbed, and even the skies were
kind, for although clouds gathered, they passed.

They awoke in the morning, fresh and vigorous--but also hungry; and
there was little to eat.

"I don't think I should fancy rattlesnake for breakfast," said Roldan,
and Adan shuddered at the mere thought. They cooked a small piece of
meat, all that was left of their store, and it but whetted their
appetite.

"There's only one thing to do," said Roldan, "and that is to get to the
Mission as quickly as possible. Chocolate! Beans! possibly chicken!
Think of it. Come! Come!"

Adan scrambled to his feet and saddled the mustang. It was agreed that
they should ride him by turns, the other running at a brisk trot.

The sun was barely up when they started. A light mist lay on the
turbulent waters and puffed among the sweet-scented chaparral. Roldan
rode during the first hour, Adan running ahead, his glance darting from
right to left, but encountering eyes neither malignant nor savage.
Shortly after he mounted the horse the mist lifted and rolled back to
the ocean. They had left the chaparral some time before and now
discovered that they were in an open plain. In the distance were high
hills over which wound a white trail. Between these hills and the
travellers was a moving mass of something. Adan