I took but little notice of them at first, but a loud hiss engaged me to attend more closely, when behold--a viper! the largest I remember to have seen, rearing itself, darting its forked tongue, and ejaculating the afore-mentioned hiss at the nose of a kitten, almost in contact with his lips.

I ran into the hall for a hoe with a long handle, with which I intended to assail him, and returning in a few seconds missed him: he was gone, and I feared had escaped me.

Still, however, the kitten sat watching immovably upon the same spot.

I concluded, therefore, that, sliding between the door and the threshold, he had found his way out of the garden into the yard.

I went round immediately, and there found him in close conversation with the old cat, whose curiosity being excited by so novel an appearance, inclined her to pat his head repeatedly with her fore foot; with her claws, however, sheathed, and not in anger, but in the way of philosophical inquiry and examination.