wasthanthey；Iwastakingmyeaseontheniceopenhill，cooledwiththebreezes，whilsttheywereinthenastyclosebag，coilingaboutoneanother，andbreakingtheirveryhearts，alltonopurpose：andIfeltquitecomfortableandhappyinthethought，andlittlebylittleclosedmyeyes，andfellintothesweetestsnoozethateverIwasininallmylife；andthereIlayoverthehill’sside，withmyheadhalfinthefield，Idon’tknowhowlong，alldeadasleep。AtlastitseemedtomethatIheardanoiseinmysleep，somethinglikeathingmoving，veryfaint，however，faraway；thenitdied，andthenitcameagainuponmyearasIslept，andnowitappearedalmostasifIheardcrackle，crackle；thenitdiedagain，orIbecameyetmoredeadasleepthanbefore，Iknownotwhich，butIcertainlylaysometimewithouthearingit。AllofasuddenIbecameawake，andtherewasI，ontheridgeofthehill，withmycheekonthegroundtowardsthestubble，withanoiseinmyearlikethatofsomethingmovingtowardsmeamongstthestubbleofthefield；well，Ilayamomentortwolisteningtothenoise，andthenIbecamefrightened，forIdidnotlikethenoiseatall，itsoundedsoodd；soIrolledmyselfonmybelly，andlookedtowardsthestubble。Mercyuponus!therewasahugesnake，orratheradreadfulviper，foritwasallyellowandgold，movingtowardsme，bearingitsheadaboutafootandahalfabovetheground，thedrystubblecracklingbeneathitsoutrageousbelly。ItmightbeaboutfiveyardsoffwhenIfirstsawit，makingstraighttowardsme，child，asifitwoulddevourme。Ilayquitestill，forIwasstupefiedwithhorror，whilstthecreaturecamestillnearer；andnowitwasnearlyuponme，whenitsuddenlydrewbackalittle，andthen-whatdoyouthink？-itlifteditsheadandchesthighintheair，andhighovermyfaceasIlookedup，flickeringatmewithitstongueasifitwouldflyatmyface。
Child，whatIfeltatthatmomentIcanscarcelysay，butitwasasufficientpunishmentforallthesinsIevercommitted；andtherewetwowere，Ilookingupattheviper，andtheviperlookingdownuponme，flickeringatmewithitstongue。ItwasonlythekindnessofGodthatsavedme：allatoncetherewasaloudnoise，thereportofagun，forafowlerwasshootingatacoveyofbirds，alittlewayoffinthestubble。Whereuponthevipersunkitshead，andimmediatelymadeoffovertheridgeofthehill，downinthedirectionofthesea。Asitpassedbyme，however-anditpassedclosebyme-ithesitatedamoment，asifitwasdoubtfulwhetheritshouldnotseizeme；itdidnot，however，butmadeoffdownthehill。Ithasoftenstruckmethathewasangrywithme，andcameuponmeunawaresforpresumingtomeddlewithhispeople，asIhavealwaysbeeninthehabitofdoing。’
’But，’saidI，’howdoyouknowthatitwasthekingofthevipers？’
’HowdoIknow!’saidtheoldman，’whoelseshoulditbe？TherewasasmuchdifferencebetweenitandotherreptilesasbetweenKingGeorgeandotherpeople。’
’IsKingGeorge，then，differentfromotherpeople？’Idemanded。