"There isn't a rattler within miles of here." "Didn't you hear a rattle, Mr.Reade ?" wailed the cigarette fiend.
"No; I didn't." "Didn't you, Mr.Hazelton ?" Harry was on the point of answering "yes," but Tom caught his eyes, and Harry, knowing that something was up, shook his head.
"You must both be deaf, then," argued Drew.
"Why, see here, you nervous little wreck of a cigarette," said Tom, grinning good-humoredly, "I'll show you that there is no snake in that bed.

Watch me." With utmost unconcern, Tom took hold of the blanket, stripping it from the cot.

Then he ran his hands over the under blanket.
"Not a thing in this bed but what belongs here," Tom explained.
"Alf, do you see how cigarettes are taking the hinges off your nerves." Shame-faced, and believing that Tom was right, Alf advanced toward the cot.

As he reached the side of it----- Click-ick-ick! sounded close to him.
"You can't make me stay in this tent.

It's the most dangerous spot in Nevada," cried Drew, turning and fleeing into flee open.
The two chums could hear his feet as he sped to another part of the camp.
"Some trick about that rattling ?" queried Harry in a whisper.
"Of course," Tom admitted with a wink.
"It's a shame to tease the youngster so." "It would be," Tom assented rather gravely, "but I'm using that means to make the lad afraid to smoke cigarettes.