“You’ll see presently,” said his companion, grasping more firmly the thick end of his rod, as if preparing to deal a blow. “When I was out here this morning,” he continued, “they were too thick for me, and I had to make tracks.” “What were too thick for you?” asked Joe, with a singular anxiety, and at the same time reining in his pony. “Why, the _snakes_,” said Sneak with much deliberation. “I was a-foot then, and from the style in which they whizzed through the grass, I was afraid too many might git on me at a time and choke me to death. But now I’m ready for ’em; they can’t git us if we manage korect.” “I won’t go!” said Joe. “Dod, they ain’t pisen!” said Sneak; “they’re nearly all _black racers_, and they don’t bite. Come on, don’t be such a tarnation coward; the rattlesnakes, and copper-heads, and wipers, won’t run after us; and if they was to, they couldn’t reach up to our legs. This is a glorious day for _snaking_—come on, Joe!” Joe followed at a very slow and cautious pace a few steps farther, and then halted again. “What’re you stopping for agin?” asked Sneak. “Sneak, the pony ain’t tall enough!” “That’s all the better,” replied Sneak; “you can whack ’em easier as they run—and then they can’t see you as fur as they kin me. I’ll swap hosses with you.” “No you won’t!” replied Joe, whipping forward again. But he had not advanced many seconds before he drew up once more. This time he was attracted by the unaccountable motions of the fawn, a short distance ahead. That animal was apparently striking some object on the ground with its feet, and ever and anon springing violently to one side or the other. Its hair stood erect on its back, and it assumed a most ferocious aspect. Now it would run back toward the men a moment, and, wheeling suddenly, again leap upon the foe, when its feet could be heard to strike against the ground; then it plunged forward, and after making a spring beyond, would return to the attach. “Here, Ringwood! Jowler!” cried Joe, and the hounds ran forward to the spot pointed out to them. But no sooner had they gone far enough to see the nature of the enemy that the fawn was attacking, than they turned away affrighted, and with their tails hanging down retreated from the scene of action.