Several were coiled to strike, and had, in accordance with their
habit, sounded their rattles. This had aroused the whole den, many
snakes appearing from under ground, or crawling from beneath stones.

"Come on! They'll chase us!" cried Bob.

"Nonsense," replied the professor. "Rattlesnakes never attack man
unless they are first disturbed. It wouldn't be advisable to go too
close, but, as long as we don't molest them, we have nothing to fear
from the snakes. I'd like to get a few specimens if I had the proper
appliances for extracting their fangs. But I never saw so many in one
place, before. It is quite interesting to watch--"

The professor broke off suddenly, for the thunderous noise of the
approaching steers was now louder.

"They're coming right at us!" exclaimed Jerry.

"Yes, and they've stampeded!" cried Ned. "We're in for it now!"

The situation of the boys and the professor was extremely perilous.
They were right in the path of the now frightened steers. The circle
had been broken, by many animals, which had been approaching from the
rear of the travelers, joining the beasts on either side, so that now
a compact, dark mass of cattle, nearly a quarter of a mile wide, was
surging ahead with great speed.

"Run!" called Ned. "There's an opening at our backs now!"