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 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 daresay 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. It mig