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intervals； on both sides； sentinels were stationed； whilst outside；
upon the field； stood commodious wooden barracks； capable of
containing two regiments of infantry； intended to serve as guards
upon the captives。 Such was the station or prison at Norman Cross；
where some six thousand French and other foreigners； followers of
the grand Corsican； were now immured。
What a strange appearance had those mighty casernes； with their
blank blind walls； without windows or grating； and their slanting
roofs； out of which； through orifices where the tiles had been
removed； would be protruded dozens of grim heads； feasting their
prison…sick eyes on the wide expanse of country unfolded from that
airy height。 Ah！ there was much misery in those casernes； and from
those roofs； doubtless； many a wistful look was turned in the
direction of lovely France。 Much had the poor inmates to endure；
and much to complain of； to the disgrace of England be it said … of
England； in general so kind and bountiful。 Rations of carrion
meat； and bread from which I have seen the very hounds occasionally
turn away； were unworthy entertainment even for the most ruffian
enemy； when helpless and a captive； and such； alas！ was the fare in
those casernes。 And then； those visits； or rather ruthless
inroads； called in the slang of the place 'strawplait…hunts；' when
in pursuit of a contraband article； which the prisoners； in order
to procure themselves a few of the necessaries and comforts of
existence； were in the habit of making； red…coated battalions were
marched into the prisons； who； with the bayonet's point； carried
havoc and ruin into every poor convenience which ingenious
wretchedness had been endeavouring to raise around it； and then the
triumphant exit with the miserable booty； and； worst of all； the
accursed bonfire； on the barrack parade； of the plait contraband；
beneath the view of the glaring eyeballs from those lofty roofs；
amidst the hurrahs of the troops； frequently drowned in the curses
poured down from above like a tempest…shower or in the terrific
warw…hoop of 'VIVE L'EMPEREUR！'
It was midsummer when we arrived at this place； and the weather；
which had for a long time been wet and gloomy； now became bright
and glorious； I was subjected to but little control； and passed my
time pleasantly enough； principally in wandering about the
neighbouring country。 It was flat and somewhat fenny； a district
more of pasture than agriculture； and not very thickly inhabited。
I soon became well acquainted with it。 At the distance of two
miles from the station was a large lake； styled in the dialect of
the country 'a mere；' about whose borders tall reeds were growing
in abundance； this was a frequent haunt of mine； but my favourite
place of resort was a wild sequestered spot at a somewhat greater
distance。 Here； surrounded with woods and thick groves； was the
seat of some ancient family； deserted by the proprietor； and only
inhabited by a rustic servant or two。 A place more solitary and
wild could scarcely be imagined； the garden and walks were
overgrown with weeds and briers； and the unpruned woods were so
tangled as to be almost impervious。 About this domain I would
wander till overtaken by fatigue； and then I would sit down with my
back against some beech； elm； or stately alder tree； and； taking
out my book； would pass hours in a state of unmixed enjoyment； my
eyes now fixed on the wondrous pages； now glancing at the sylvan
scene around； and sometimes I would drop the book and listen to the
voice of the rooks and wild pigeons； and not unfrequently to the
croaking of multitudes of frogs from the neighbouring swamps and
fens。
In going to and from this place I frequently passed a tall elderly
individual； dressed in rather a quaint fashion； with a skin cap on
his head and stout gaiters on his legs； on his shoulders hung a
moderate sized leathern sack； he seemed fond of loitering near
sunny banks； and of groping amidst furze and low scrubby bramble
bushes； of which there were plenty in the neighbourhood of Norman
Cross。 Once I saw him standing in the middle of a dusty road；
looking intently at a large mark which seemed to have been drawn
across it； as if by a walking stick。 'He must have been a large
one；' the old man muttered half to himself； 'or he would not have
left such a trail； I wonder if he is near； he seems to have moved
this way。' He then went behind some bushes which grew on the right
side of the road； and appeared to be in quest of something； moving
behind the bushes with his head downwards； and occasionally
striking their roots with his foot： at length he exclaimed； 'Here
he is！' and forthwith I saw him dart amongst the bushes。 There was
a kind of scuffling noise； the rustling of branches； and the
crackling of dry sticks。 'I have him！' said the man at last； 'I
have got him！' and presently he made his appearance about twenty
yards down the road； holding a large viper in his hand。 'What do
you think of that； my boy？' said he； as I went up to him … 'what do
you think of catching such a thing as that with the naked hand？'
'What do I think？' said I。 'Why； that I could do as much myself。'
'You do；' said the man； 'do you？ Lord！ how the young people in
these days are given to conceit； it did not use to be so in my
time： when I was a child； childer knew how to behave themselves；
but the childer of these days are full of conceit； full of froth；
like the mouth of this viper'； and with his forefinger and thumb he
squeezed a considerable quantity of foam from the jaws of the viper
down upon the road。 'The childer of these days are a generation of
… God forgive me； what was I about to say？' said the old man； and
opening his bag he thrust the reptile into it； which appeared far
from empty。 I passed on。 As I was returning； towards the evening；
I overtook the old man； who was wending in the same direction。
'Good evening to you； sir；' said I； taking off a cap which I wore
on my head。 'Good evening；' said the old man； and then； looking at
me； 'How's this？' said he； 'you aren't； sure； the child I met in
the morning？' 'Yes；' said I； 'I am； what makes you doubt it？'
'Why； you were then all froth and conceit；' said the old man； 'and
now you take off your cap to me。' 'I beg your pardon；' said I； '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
daresay 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； inte