if I was frothy and conceited; it ill
becomes a child like me to be so." "That's true, dear," said the old
man; "well, as you have begged my pardon, I truly forgive you." "Thank
you," said I; "have you caught any more of those things?" "Only four or
five," said the old man; "they are getting scarce, though this used to be
a great neighbourhood for them." "And what do you do with them?" said I;
"do you carry them home and play with them!" "I sometimes play with one
or two that I tame," said the old man; "but I hunt them mostly for the
fat which they contain, out of which I make unguents which are good for
various sore troubles, especially for the rheumatism." "And do you get
your living by hunting these creatures?" I demanded. "Not altogether,"
said the old man; "besides being a viper-hunter, I am what they call a
herbalist, one who knows the virtue of particular herbs; I gather them at
the proper season, to make medicines with for the sick." "And do you
live in the neighbourhood?" I demanded. "You seem very fond of asking
questions, child. No, I do not live in this neighbourhood in particular,
I travel about; I have not been in this neighbourhood till lately for
some years."

From this time the old man and myself formed an acquaintance; I often
accompanied him in his wanderings about the neighbourhood, and on two or
three occasions assisted him in catching the reptiles which he hunted. He
generally carried a viper with him which he had made quite tame, and from
which he had extracted the poisonous fangs; it would dance and perform
various kinds of tricks. He was fond of telling me anecdotes connected
with his adventures with the reptile species. "But," said he one day,
sighing, "I must shortly give up this business, I am no longer the man I
was, I am become timid, and when a person is timid in viper-hunting he
had better leave off, as it is quite clear his virtue is leaving him. I
got a fright some years ago, which I am quite sure I shall never get the
better of; my hand has been shaky more or less ever since." "What
frightened you?" said I. "I had better not tell you," said the old man,
"or you may be frightened too, lose your virtue, and be no longer good
for the business." "I don't care," said I; "I don't intend to follow the
business; I dare say I shall be an officer, like my father." "Well,"
said the old man, "I once saw the king of the vipers, and since then--"
"The king of the vipers!" said I, in