A Flock of Goats

A flock of goats were browsing and looking for stray oyster cans, sardine boxes and the like in North Dallas, when all at once there was a commotion among the foremost ones, which beat a hasty retreat. An old billy who had been fetching up the rear with the solemnity of a deacon walked to the front, paused and began to strike the ground right hard in an odd sort of way with his fore feet and at the same time to shake his head as if going through some sort of superstitions cantation. He then walked back in the direction he had come for a few yards, and taking a running start, made a long jump, alighting with his legs bunched, and immediately on hitting the ground, made a second long jump far out to one side. The gentlemen who witnessed this strange performance, prompted by curiosity, went up to see what the trouble was, and there lay a big rattlesnake cut in two and writhing in the throes of death.

source: Indiana Weekly Messenger
location: Indiana, Pennsylvania