An hour after their delayed start they topped the rise on the opposite side of the canyon and paused to gaze over the peaks and rugged mountain-tops that lay before them in a vast panorama. Over yonder in the clouds hung the snow-capped peaks of the High Sierras, now and then taking on a purple shade from some tinted cloud.
"It doesn't seem possible that we shall be able to make those mountains with our ponies, does it?" wondered Elfreda.
"Are you getting cold feet already?" teased Emma.
"Not yet, but I expect to when I get in those chilly looking snow-caps off yonder," answered Stacy quickly. "This life is just one ridge after another."
They had mounted ridges, and crossed broad and narrow valleys for some time without incident and the steady creak of saddle straps and girths was becoming monotonous, when suddenly Grace's pony jumped clear of the ground with all four feet and began to back. Grace Harlowe, instantly understanding, called "Look out!" and whirled her pony about.
"What is the trouble, Grace?" called Tom, who was riding farther to the rear.
"A snake! I heard it, but do not know where it is."
"Stay back. I will find him and dispatch him," shouted Hippy, hurrying forward.
"Send him a message for me while you are about it. Tell him Emma Dean wishes him to transmigrate," chortled Stacy.
Just then Lieutenant Wingate discovered the snake, and raising his rifle he aimed it over the head of his pony for a few seconds, then pulled the trigger.
"Of course he did. My Uncle Hip never misses anything," declared Stacy.
"You may all get off. I am going to skin the reptile. He is a fine specimen," announced Lieutenant Wingate. "I propose to make a hat band of him. It isn't everyone who can wear a rattler around his sombrero, you know."
"I'll say that was a fine shot," declared Stacy.
"Yes, but not better than almost any other person could make," differed Emma Dean.
"Velly fine. Me savvy fine shot," interjected the Chinaman.
"Emma, in a way, is right," spoke up Grace. "It does not take any sort of marksmanship at all to shoot the head from a rattler. Even a person who never has fired a gun in his life should be able to shoot one."
"You don't believe it. Suppose you let Emma try it when next we meet a snake. Point your rifle at a rattler and he will line his head up with the muzzle. Move the muzzle from side to side and he will follow it, always keeping his head in line with it. Then, all you have to do is pull the trigger. Why, I believe I could shoot and hit one with my eyes shut. I think I should like to make the experiment next time we see a rattler," said Grace.