But Tom caught him by the shoulder.
"What's the matter ?" demanded Reade.
Click cl-cl-click! "There it is again," cried Alf, in fear.
"What on earth are you talking about ?" Tom demanded.
Once more the dread sound smote the air.
"Rattlers!" wailed Drew, perspiring from fear.

"Lemme get away from this." "Nonsense!" retorted Reade, retaining a strong clutch on the boy's shoulder, though once more the sound reached their ears.
"It's all your nerves, Alf," Tom insisted.

"You just imagine such things.

That's what cigarettes do to your nerves." "But don't you hear the rattlesnake ?" "I don't," Tom gravely informed him, though once more the nerve-disturbing sound rose clearly on the air.

"See here, Alf, rattlers, whatever their habits, certainly don't climb trees.