deep breath I
thought I smelled smoke and with it came an odor of burning flesh. It
was too heavy to be merely the remains of a dinner thrown into a fire. I
was just thinking that some accident--"

"I don't think so," replied Jack. "At least we won't think that until we
have to. It just can't be so," he added.

"It's getting mighty dark in here," stated Tom. "I wish it would lighten
up a bit. That's a fire ahead there."

"Whar y'all gwine?" A giant negro barred the path.

CHAPTER XIV

TWO BEAVERS IN PERIL

Neither Harry nor Arnold is quite clear as to just what happened after
the rattlesnake made his leap at the charmed boy.

They both are agreed on one point, however. Whenever the subject of
marksmanship is brought up, they invariably agree that the man who fired
the shot from his rifle that afternoon was the best crackshot they ever
saw. His skill surely saved Harry's life.

What really happened was that a stranger, passing through the forest at
the moment of the boys' predicament, heard the shots from Arnold's
automatic. As the reader knows, the snake, Harry and Arnold were in
direct line with Harry between the snake and Arnold. Therefore Arnold
was unable quickly to shoot the snake. He tried to distract the
attention of the reptile by creating a disturbance, but, as we know, in
this he was unsuccessful. The temporary diversion was sufficient,
however, to enable the stranger to grasp the situation as he came
through a clump of palmettos.

Swinging his rifle to his shoulder he fired, seemingly without taking
aim. His bullet sped true to the mark and severed the head of the now
thoroughly angered rattler. He was just in time, for already the muscles
of steel had started to launch the death dealing fangs.

It was not to be wondered at that Harry and Arnold should feel extremely
grateful to the stranger. As he approached they both stepped forward and
embarrassed him by the profuse thanks offered.

"Now, boys, don't say another word," he protested. "I like to kill them
varmints. It pleased me a heap to be able to he'p youall."

"But we feel that you saved Harry's life, just the same and we want you
to understand that we feel under deep obligations," Arnold insisted.
"Another moment and it would have been too late."

"Well, I guess it would," acknowledged the stranger. "That's a leetle
the biggest snake of that partic'lar kind I ever seen."

"He's big enough to be in a show," declared Harry.