Snake Slayer

I have a ‘snake slayer,’ a derringer I carry when hiking in dry States. So when I saw the coiled rattlesnake sunbathing on a dusty track I unholstered, ready to unleash some primitive instincts, oddly though I chose, ‘instinctively’ to step backwards for a spell and work my way around it. I could have slayed it with one .410 shotshell; I mean who needs rattlers? I could have cut the rattle off, taken it home triumphantly to my mancave. Then again, ammo is not cheap, and snakes are all over this arid landscape. Funny how it pans out… sometimes instincts can surprise us with a little caveman reasoning.