CHAP. ii. HUNT AFTER AN ADDER. 43 



down upon it with both hands, but the animal had 

 escaped. He began to tear up the heather, in order to 

 get at it. His face streamed with perspiration. He 

 rested for a time, and then began again. Still there 

 was no animal, nor a shadow of one. 



At this time another boy came up, and asked, 

 "What are ye doing there?" "Naething." "D'ye 

 call that naething ? " pointing to about a cart-load of 

 heather torn up. " Have ye lost ony thing ?" " No/' 

 " What are ye looking for then ?" " For something 

 like an eel ! " " An eel ! " quoth the lad ; " do ye think 

 ye'll find an eel amang heather ? It's been an adder, 

 and it's well ye havena gotten it. The beast might 

 have bitten ye to death." "No fear o' that," said 

 Edward. " How long is it sin' ye saw it ? " " Some 

 minutes." " If that's the case, it may be some miles 

 up the hills by this time. Which way was it gaun ?" 

 "That way." "Well," said the lad, "you see that 

 heap o' stones up there ? try them, and if you do not 

 find it there, you may gang hame and come back 

 again, and then yell just be as near finding it as ye 

 are now." " Will ye help me ? " asked Edward. " Na 

 faith, I dinna want to be bitten to death." And so 

 saying, he went away. 



Edward then proceeded to the pile of stones which 

 had been pointed out, to make a search for the 

 animal. He took stone after stone off the heap, and 

 still there was no eel. There were plenty of worms 

 and insects, but these he did not want. A little 



