eturning, towards the evening, I overtook the old man, who was wending
in the same direction. "Good evening to you, sir," said I, taking off a
cap which I wore on my head. "Good evening," said the old man; and then,
looking at me, "How's this?" said he, "you ar'n't, sure, the child I met
in the morning?" "Yes," said I, "I am; what makes you doubt it?" "Why,
you were then all froth and conceit," said the old man, "and now you take
off your cap to me." "I beg your pardon," said I, "if I was frothy and
conceited; it ill becomes a child like me to be so." "That's true,
dear," said the old man; "well, as you have begged my pardon, I truly
forgive you." "Thank you," said I; "have you caught any more of those
things?" "Only four or five," said the old man; "they are getting
scarce, though this used to be a great neighbourhood for them." "And
what do you do with them?" said I; "do you carry them home and play with
them?" "I sometimes play with one or two that I tame," said the old man;
"but I hunt them mostly for the fat which they contain, out of which I
make unguents which are good for various sore troubles, especially for
the rheumatism." "And do you get your living by hunting these
creatures?" I demanded. "Not altogether," said the old man; "besides
being a viper-hunter, I am what they call a herbalist, one who knows the
virtue of particular herbs; I gather them at the proper season, to make
medicines with for the sick." "And do you live in the neighbourhood?" I
demanded. "You seem very fond of asking questions, child. 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 quit