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taking off his hat； he made some strange gestures to me； cringing；
chattering； and showing his teeth； and shortly departed； muttering
something about 'holy letters；' and talking to himself in a strange
tongue。 The words of the Jew were in due course of time reported
to my mother； who treasured them in her heart； and from that moment
began to entertain brighter hopes of her youngest born than she had
ever before ventured to foster。
CHAPTER II
Barracks and lodgings … A camp … The viper … A delicate child …
Blackberry time … MEUN and TUUM … Hythe … The Golgotha … Daneman's
skull … Superhuman stature … Stirring times … The sea…bord。
I HAVE been a wanderer the greater part of my life； indeed I
remember only two periods； and these by no means lengthy； when I
was； strictly speaking； stationary。 I was a soldier's son； and as
the means of my father were by no means sufficient to support two
establishments； his family invariably attended him wherever he
went； so that from my infancy I was accustomed to travelling and
wandering； and looked upon a monthly change of scene and residence
as a matter of course。 Sometimes we lived in barracks； sometimes
in lodgings； but generally in the former； always eschewing the
latter from motives of economy； save when the barracks were
inconvenient and uncomfortable； and they must have been highly so
indeed； to have discouraged us from entering them； for though we
were gentry （pray bear that in mind； gentle reader）； gentry by
birth； and incontestably so by my father's bearing the commission
of good old George the Third； we were not FINE GENTRY； but people
who could put up with as much as any genteel Scotch family who find
it convenient to live on a third floor in London； or on a sixth at
Edinburgh or Glasgow。 It was not a little that could discourage
us： we once lived within the canvas walls of a camp； at a place
called Pett； in Sussex； and I believe it was at this place that
occurred the first circumstance； or adventure； call it which you
will； that I can remember in connection with myself： it was a
strange one； and I will relate it。
It happened that my brother and myself were playing one evening in
a sandy lane； in the neighbourhood of this Pett camp； our mother
was at a slight distance。 All of a sudden； a bright yellow； and；
to my infantine eye； beautiful and glorious； object made its
appearance at the top of the bank from between the thick quickset；
and； gliding down； began to move across the lane to the other side；
like a line of golden light。 Uttering a cry of pleasure； I sprang
forward； and seized it nearly by the middle。 A strange sensation
of numbing coldness seemed to pervade my whole arm； which surprised
me the more； as the object to the eye appeared so warm and sunlike。
I did not drop it； however； but； holding it up； looked at it
intently； as its head dangled about a foot from my hand。 It made
no resistance； I felt not even the slightest struggle； but now my
brother began to scream and shriek like one possessed。 'O mother；
mother！' said he； 'the viper！ … my brother has a viper in his
hand！' He then； like one frantic； made an effort to snatch the
creature away from me。 The viper now hissed amain； and raised its
head； in which were eyes like hot coals； menacing； not myself； but
my brother。 I dropped my captive； for I saw my mother running
towards me； and the reptile； after standing for a moment nearly
erect； and still hissing furiously； made off； and disappeared。 The
whole scene is now before me； as vividly as if it occurred
yesterday … the gorgeous viper； my poor dear frantic brother； my
agitated parent； and a frightened hen clucking under the bushes …
and yet I was not three years old。
It is my firm belief that certain individuals possess an inherent
power； or fascination； over certain creatures； otherwise I should
be unable to account for many feats which I have witnessed； and；
indeed； borne a share in； connected with the taming of brutes and
reptiles。 I have known a savage and vicious mare； whose stall it
was dangerous to approach； even when bearing provender； welcome；
nevertheless； with every appearance of pleasure； an uncouth； wiry…
headed man； with a frightfully seamed face； and an iron hook
supplying the place of his right hand； one whom the animal had
never seen before； playfully bite his hair； and cover his face with
gentle and endearing kisses； and I have already stated how a viper
would permit； without resentment； one child to take it up in his
hand； whilst it showed its dislike to the approach of another by
the fiercest hissings。 Philosophy can explain many strange things；
but there are some which are a far pitch above her； and this is
one。
I should scarcely relate another circumstance which occurred about
this time but for a singular effect which it produced upon my
constitution。 Up to this period I had been rather a delicate
child； whereas； almost immediately after the occurrence to which I
allude； I became both hale and vigorous； to the great astonishment
of my parents； who naturally enough expected that it would produce
quite a contrary effect。
It happened that my brother and myself were disporting ourselves in
certain fields near the good town of Canterbury。 A female servant
had attended us； in order to take care that we came to no mischief：
she； however； it seems； had matters of her own to attend to； and；
allowing us to go where we listed； remained in one corner of a
field； in earnest conversation with a red…coated dragoon。 Now it
chanced to be blackberry time； and the two children wandered under
the hedges； peering anxiously among them in quest of that trash so
grateful to urchins of their degree。 We did not find much of it；
however； and were soon separated in the pursuit。 All at once I
stood still； and could scarcely believe my eyes。 I had come to a
spot where； almost covering the hedge； hung clusters of what seemed
fruit … deliciously…tempting fruit … something resembling grapes of
various colours； green； red； and purple。 Dear me； thought I； how
fortunate！ yet have I a right to gather it？ is it mine？ for the
observance of the law of MEUM and TUUM had early been impressed
upon my mind； and I entertained； even at that tender age； the
utmost horror for theft； so I stood staring at the variegated
clusters； in doubt as to what I should do。 I know not how I argued
the matter in my mind； the temptation； however； was at last too
strong for me； so I stretched forth my hand and ate。 I remember；
perfectly well； that the taste of this strange fruit was by no
means so pleasant as the appearance； but the idea of eating fruit
was sufficient for a child； and； after all； the flavour was much
superior to that of sour apples； so I ate voraciously。 How long I
continued eating I scarcely know。 One thing is certain； that I
never left the field as I entered it； being carried home in the
arms of the dragoon in strong convulsions； in which I continued for
several hours。 About midnight I awoke； as if from a troubled
sleep； and beheld my parents bending over my couch； whilst the
regimental surgeon； with a candle in his hand； stood nigh； the
light feebly reflected on the whitewashed walls of the barrack…
room。
Another circumstance connected with my infancy； and I have done。 I
need offer no apology for relating it； as it subsequently exercised
considerable influence over my pursuits。 We were； if I remember
right； in the vicinity of a place called Hythe； in Kent。 One sweet
evening； in the latter part of summer； our mother took her two
little boys by the hand； for a wander about the fields。 In the
course of our stroll we came to the village church； an old； gray…
headed sexton stood in the porch； who； perceiving that we were
strangers； invited us to enter。 We were presently in the interior；
wandering about the aisles； looking on the walls； and inspecting
the monuments of the notable dead。 I can scarcely state what we
saw； how should I？ I was a child not yet four years old； and yet I
think I remember the evening sun streaming in through a stained
window upon the dingy mahogany pulpit； and flinging a rich lustre
upon the faded tints of an ancient banner。 And now once more we
were outside the building； where； against the wall； stood a low…
eaved pent…house； into which we looked。 It was half filled with
substances of some kind； which at first looked like large gray
stones。 The greater part were lying in layers； some； however； were
seen in confused and mouldering heaps； and two or three； which had
perhaps rolled down from the rest； lay separately on the floor。
'Skulls； madam；' said the sexton； 'skulls of the old Danes！ Long
ago they came pirating into these parts； and then there chanced a
mighty shipw