he heard a coughing note which might have been a noise of amusement going around the creatures , behind him , and then he fell over the far side and tumbling came to rest at the feet of another man : a ragged backwoods hunter , bearded and dusty , in loose shirt and trousers and a broad-brimmed hat with , oh the blessings of heaven , a rifle in his hand-but he was only one man , and already the five scaly heads were looking over the ridge down at the both of them .