‘’Twas a long ways back to town an’ Sawyer he was mighty nigh dead by the time he gets to Mister Sam Glendon’s. ’Cause, you see, Mister Tim, he has to hold ’at there gunny-sack clear away from him, like this, an’ his arms gits powerful tired. He ain’ wantin’ ’at snake to bite him through the sides of ’at bag. No, sir! Lots o’ times he wants to lay ol’ gunny-sack down, but he’s afraid he ain’t got it tied right tight an’ he’s scared to do it. So he keep on a-walkin’, changin’ arms mighty frequent, an’ after a while he ’rives at Mister Glendon’s. “I done fotch ’at snake you asks me for,” he say. “Does I get me ’at five dollars?” “You certainly does,” Mister Glendon say. “Is he a big snake, Sawyer?” “Well, to tell the truth, Mister Sam,” Sawyer tell him, “he ain’ so powerful prodigious, sir, but he’s the weightenes’ snake I ever carries, sir!” So Mister Glendon he gets him a cage and opens it and Sawyer he cuts the string of ’at there gunny-sack an’ he drops it in the cage an’ they waits for Mister Rattlesnake to come out an’ say “Howdy.” But he ain’ show hisself, an’ after a-while Mister Glendon get him a stick an’ poke ol’ bag around. But still Mister Rattlesnake ain’ come out. So Mister Glendon he lifts ’at bag up and shakes it an’ there ain’ no snake there at all! No, sir, ’at ol’ Mister Rattlesnake he jus’ crawl _under_ ’at gunny-sack ’stead of _into_ it, an’ all time Sawyer was pullin’ it tight Mister Rattlesnake was a-lyin’ right there laughin’ at him! Yes, sir, jus’ a-bustin’ his sides, I reckon! Mister Glendon he done give Sawyer two-bits ’stead o’ five dollars, ’cause, he say, the way Sawyer look when he see they ain’ no rattlesnake, an’ he ’members how he nigh wore hisself out carryin’ ’at gunny-sack home, was wuth it!’ Tim, whose eyes had closed more than once during the leisurely narrative, chuckled sleepily. ‘It’s a good story, Harmon,’ he murmured. ‘Guess I’ll just lie down awhile and――’ He didn’t finish the remark. He didn’t need to. He was already asleep. Harmon placed another branch on the flames, looked appraisingly at the slender stock of fuel remaining and shook his head. After a moment his hand stole into his pocket and emerged with his mouth-organ. He viewed it longingly and then glanced at the slumbering Tim. After a period of hesitation he shook his head again, replaced the faithful instrument in his pocket and curled himself up by the fire. CHAPTER XVIII COUNTERFEIT MONEY