A long and cruel whip.
1869. In the midst of it all, he would start up with a sudden yell of anguish, whirl his black-snake and let fly at the mules: misery, passion, ferocity, depicted in every feature.—J. Ross Browne, ‘Adventures in the Apache Country,’ p. 40 (N.Y.).
1869. Pop cracked his black-snake, and we all rid in with flying colors.—Id., p. 462.
1875. To keep from starving, he was obliged to take a black snake, and drive a team.—S. J. Barrows, The Northwestern Mule and his Driver, Atlantic Monthly, xxxv. p. 560/2 (May).
1878. In vain the fearful “black-snake” curled and popped over the animals’ backs, sometimes gashing the skin, and sometimes raising welts the size of one’s finger.—J. H. Beadle, ‘Western Wilds,’ p. 53.
1888. The only ambition of these creatures [the Mexicans] seemed to be to vie with one another as to who could snap the huge “black-snake” the loudest.—Mrs. Custer, ‘Tenting on the Plains,’ p. 356.
