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old man； 'I once saw the king of the vipers； and since then … '
'The king of the vipers！' said I； interrupting him； 'have the
vipers a king？' 'As sure as we have；' said the old man … 'as sure
as we have King George to rule over us； have these reptiles a king
to rule over them。' 'And where did you see him？' said I。 'I will
tell you；' said the old man； 'though I don't like talking about the
matter。 It may be about seven years ago that I happened to be far
down yonder to the west； on the other side of England； nearly two
hundred miles from here； following my business。 It was a very
sultry day； I remember； and I had been out several hours catching
creatures。 It might be about three o'clock in the afternoon； when
I found myself on some heathy land near the sea； on the ridge of a
hill； the side of which； nearly as far down as the sea； was heath；
but on the top there was arable ground； which had been planted； and
from which the harvest had been gathered … oats or barley； I know
not which … but I remember that the ground was covered with
stubble。 Well； about three o'clock； as I told you before； what
with the heat of the day and from having walked about for hours in
a lazy way； I felt very tired； so I determined to have a sleep； and
I laid myself down； my head just on the ridge of the hill； towards
the field； and my body over the side down amongst the heath； my
bag； which was nearly filled with creatures； lay at a little
distance from my face； the creatures were struggling in it； I
remember； and I thought to myself； how much more comfortably off I
was than they； I was taking my ease on the nice open hill； cooled
with the breezes； whilst they were in the nasty close bag； coiling
about one another； and breaking their very hearts； all to no
purpose： and I felt quite comfortable and happy in the thought；
and little by little closed my eyes； and fell into the sweetest
snooze that ever I was in in all my life； and there I lay over the
hill's side； with my head half in the field； I don't know how long；
all dead asleep。 At last it seemed to me that I heard a noise in
my sleep； something like a thing moving； very faint； however； far
away； then it died； and then it came again upon my ear as I slept；
and now it appeared almost as if I heard crackle； crackle； then it
died again； or I became yet more dead asleep than before； I know
not which； but I certainly lay some time without hearing it。 All
of a sudden I became awake； and there was I； on the ridge of the
hill； with my cheek on the ground towards the stubble； with a noise
in my ear like that of something moving towards me amongst the
stubble of the field； well； I lay a moment or two listening to the
noise； and then I became frightened； for I did not like the noise
at all； it sounded so odd； so I rolled myself on my belly； and
looked towards the stubble。 Mercy upon us！ there was a huge snake；
or rather a dreadful viper； for it was all yellow and gold； moving
towards me； bearing its head about a foot and a half above the
ground； the dry stubble crackling beneath its outrageous belly。 It
might be about five yards off when I first saw it； making straight
towards me； child； as if it would devour me。 I lay quite still；
for I was stupefied with horror； whilst the creature came still
nearer； and now it was nearly upon me； when it suddenly drew back a
little； and then … what do you think？ … it lifted its head and
chest high in the air； and high over my face as I looked up；
flickering at me with its tongue as if it would fly at my face。
Child； what I felt at that moment I can scarcely say； but it was a
sufficient punishment for all the sins I ever committed； and there
we two were； I looking up at the viper； and the viper looking down
upon me； flickering at me with its tongue。 It was only the
kindness of God that saved me： all at once there was a loud noise；
the report of a gun； for a fowler was shooting at a covey of birds；
a little way off in the stubble。 Whereupon the viper sunk its
head； and immediately made off over the ridge of the hill； down in
the direction of the sea。 As it passed by me； however … and it
passed close by me … it hesitated a moment； as if it was doubtful
whether it should not seize me； it did not； however； but made off
down the hill。 It has often struck me that he was angry with me；
and came upon me unawares for presuming to meddle with his people；
as I have always been in the habit of doing。'
'But；' said I； 'how do you know that it was the king of the
vipers？'
'How do I know！' said the old man； 'who else should it be？ There
was as much difference between it and other reptiles as between
King George and other people。'
'Is King George； then； different from other people？' I demanded。
'Of course；' said the old man； 'I have never seen him myself； but I
have heard people say that he is a ten times greater man than other
folks； indeed； it stands to reason that he must be different from
the rest； else people would not be so eager to see him。 Do you
think； child； that people would be fools enough to run a matter of
twenty or thirty miles to see the king； provided King George … '
'Haven't the French a king？' I demanded。
'Yes；' said the old man； 'or something much the same； and a queer
one he is； not quite so big as King George； they say； but quite as
terrible a fellow。 What of him？'
'Suppose he should come to Norman Cross！'
'What should he do at Norman Cross； child？'
'Why； you were talking about the vipers in your bag breaking their
hearts； and so on； and their king coming to help them。 Now；
suppose the French king should hear of his people being in trouble
at Norman Cross； and … '
'He can't come； child；' said the old man； rubbing his hands； 'the
water lies between。 The French don't like the water； neither
vipers nor Frenchmen take kindly to the water； child。'
When the old man left the country； which he did a few days after
the conversation which I have just related； he left me the reptile
which he had tamed and rendered quite harmless by removing the
fangs。 I was in the habit of feeding it with milk； and frequently
carried it abroad with me in my walks。
CHAPTER V
The tent … Man and woman … Dark and swarthy … Manner of speaking …
Bad money … Transfixed … Faltering tone … Little basket … High
opinion … Plenty of good … Keeping guard … Tilted cart … Rubricals
… Jasper … The right sort … The horseman of the lane … John Newton
… The alarm … Gentle brothers。
ONE day it happened that； being on my rambles； I entered a green
lane which I had never seen before； at first it was rather narrow；
but as I advanced it became considerably wider； in the middle was a
driftway with deep ruts； but right and left was a space carpeted
with a sward of trefoil and clover； there was no lack of trees；
chiefly ancient oaks； which； flinging out their arms from either
side； nearly formed a canopy； and afforded a pleasing shelter from
the rays of the sun； which was burning fiercely above。 Suddenly a
group of objects attracted my attention。 Beneath one of the
largest of the trees； upon the grass； was a kind of low tent or
booth； from the top of which a thin smoke was curling； beside it
stood a couple of light carts； whilst two or three lean horses or
ponies were cropping the herbage which was growing nigh。 Wondering
to whom this odd tent could belong； I advanced till I was close
before it； when I found that it consisted of two tilts； like those
of waggons； placed upon the ground and fronting each other；
connected behind by a sail or large piece of canvas which was but
partially drawn across the top； upon the ground； in the intervening
space； was a fire； over which； supported by a kind of iron crowbar；
hung a caldron； my advance had been so noiseless as not to alarm
the inmates； who consisted of a man and woman； who sat apart； one
on each side of the fire； they were both busily employed … the man
was carding plaited straw； whilst the woman seemed to be rubbing
something with a white powder； some of which lay on a plate beside
her； suddenly the man looked up； and； perceiving me； uttered a
strange kind of cry； and the next moment both the woman and himself
were on their feet and rushing out upon me。
I retreated a few steps； yet without turning to flee。 I was not；
however； without apprehension； which； indeed； the appearance of
these two people was well calculated to inspire： the woman was a
stout figure； seemingly between thirty and forty； she wore no cap；
and her long hair fell on either side of her head like horse…tails
half…way down her waist； her skin was dark and swarthy； like that
of a toad； and the expression of her countenance was particularly
evil； her arms were bare； and her bosom was but half