He cut down the bushes here, in order that he might more easily kill the snakes; for which, indeed, I am thankful to him, not only for the food that they afford, but because they were in such abundance, and so fearless, that they often came in here, knowing that they had naught to fear from me." "Then you think that he will return soon ?" "As he told me not of his intention of going out at all, I cannot say.

He is away, sometimes, for hours in the forest." "Well, in any case, we shall watch here until his return.

It may be that he is some idle fellow, who prefers killing snakes to honest work; but it may also be that he is the escaped prisoner of whom we are in search." "I hear little of what passes in the town," the priest said, quietly.

"News would disturb my meditations, and I never question those who come here to ask for my prayers.

I have heard of the escape of no prisoner." "It was a young English officer who got away.