WHEN AUGUSTUS CAME OUT on the porch the blue pigs were eating a rattlesnake-not a very big one. It had probably just been crawling around looking for shade when it ran into the pigs. They were having a fine tug-of-war with it, and its rattling days were over.
In "Lonesome Dove" by Larry McMurtry, Augustus discovers an unusual scene when he steps out onto the porch. He finds blue pigs engaged in a struggle with a rattlesnake, which was likely seeking refuge from the heat before encountering the pigs. This unexpected interaction highlights the wildness and unpredictability of life on the frontier.
The scene captures a moment of nature's harsh realities, where the blue pigs dominate the rattlesnake, signifying the harshness of survival in such an environment. The rattlesnake's fate serves as a reminder of the relentless cycle of life, as one creature finds its end while another engages in a primal contest.
