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, 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.