small valley between two hills, or downs, the
sides of which were covered with furze; in the midst of this valley were
various carts and low tents forming a rude kind of encampment; several
dark children were playing about, who took no manner of notice of us. As
we passed one of the tents, however, a canvas screen was lifted up, and a
woman supported upon a crutch hobbled out. She was about the middle age,
and, besides being lame, was bitterly ugly; she was very slovenly
dressed, and on her swarthy features ill nature was most visibly stamped.
She did not deign me a look, but, addressing Jasper in a tongue which I
did not understand, appeared to put some eager questions to him.

'He's coming,' said Jasper, and passed on. 'Poor fellow,' said he to me,
'he has scarcely been gone an hour, and she's jealous already. Well,' he
continued, 'what do you think of her? you have seen her now, and can
judge for yourself--that 'ere woman is Tawno Chikno's wife!'

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

THE TENTS--PLEASANT DISCOURSE--I AM PHARAOH--SHIFTING FOR ONE'S
SELF--HORSE-SHOES--THIS IS WONDERFUL--BLESS YOUR WISDOM--A PRETTY
MANOEUVRE--ILL DAY TO THE ROMANS--MY NAME IS HERNE--A SINGULAR PEOPLE--AN
ORIGINAL SPEECH

We went to the farthest of the tents, which stood at a slight distance
from the rest, and which exactly resembled the one which I have described
on a former occasion; we went in and sat down one on each side of a small
fire, which was smouldering on the ground, there was no one else in the
tent but a tall tawny woman of middle age, who was busily knitting.
'Brother,' said Jasper, 'I wish to hold some pleasant discourse with
you.'

'As much as you please,' said I, 'provided you can find anything pleasant
to talk about.'

'Never fear,' said Jasper; 'and first of all we will talk of yourself.
Where have you been all this long time?'

'Here and there,' said I, 'and far and near, going about with the
soldiers; but there is no soldiering now, so we have sat down, father and
family, in the town there.'

'And do you still hunt snakes?' said Jasper.

'No,' said I, 'I have given up that long ago; I do better now: read books
and learn languages.'

'Well, I am sorry you have given up your snake-hunting, many's the
strange talk I have had with our people about your snake and yourself,
and how you frightened my father and mother in the lane.'

'And where are your father and mother?'

'Where I shall never see them, brother; a