We were seven miles from anywhere, and surrounded by a desolate country.

I did not experience the feeling of terror that I had had at Camp Apache, for instance, nor the grewsome fear of the Ehrenberg grave-yard, nor the appalling fright I had known in crossing the Mogollon range or in driving through Sanford's Pass.

But still there was a haunting feeling of insecurity which hung around me especially at night.

I was awfully afraid of snakes, and no sooner had we lain ourselves down on our cots to sleep, than I would hear a rustling among the dry leaves that had blown in under our beds.
Then all would be still again; then a crackling and a rustling--in a flash I would be sitting up in bed.

"Jack, do you hear that ?" Of course I did not dare to move or jump out of bed, so I would sit, rigid, scared.