h had struck its head against a piece of iron projecting
from a sunken log, and was struggling in the water close to the bank.
The fish did not attempt to swim away, nor did it seem alarmed, when the
surgeon stooped down, and lifted it gently out of the water. He at once
saw that the jaw of the fish had been broken, and with his penknife and
some strips of wood and linen, which he had in his pocket, he
dexterously managed to bind up the jaw, after doing which, he placed the
fish in the water. It did not even then swim away, but as long as he
remained on the bank, kept watching him attentively.

"The next day, going down to the pond what was his surprise to see the
fish swim towards him, and poke his head out of the water. He perceived
that some of the bandaging had been displaced, and lifting the fish as
before gently on the bank he dressed the wound, and again returned it to
its native element. As he walked along the bank, the fish swam by his
side, and not till he turned his back, did it dart off into deep water.

"The following day, he again went down to the pond, when the fish swam
up to where he stood, though it did no more than come to the edge, being
apparently satisfied that its wound was going on well. As long as he
remained in the place, the fish invariably appeared whenever he went to
the pond, and swam close to the edge, as he walked along the bank.

"I must confess that that fish must have had as much sense as many other
animals, and probably felt more pain when injured, and would have been
alarmed, if it had been attacked, or had found a hook in its jaws."

"But is the story really true?" asked Fanny.

"It is at all events as well authenticated as many other anecdotes,"
answered the laird. "By-the-by, Mrs Vallery, I should like to witness
the performances of the snake-charmers in India. Have you ever seen
them?"

"Frequently," answered Mrs Vallery. "They are very wonderful, and my
husband has taken some pains to ascertain whether there is any
imposture, but without success. They profess to charm the Cobra de
Capella and other snakes, which are excessively venomous, and abound in
all the hotter parts of the country. It is said, indeed, that 12,000
natives are killed annually by bites from them. The snake-charmers do
not previously train the snakes, but will charm those only just caught,
quite as well as those they carry about with them.

"They use for this purpose, a hollow gourd on which t