"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 dare say 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.

"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.