CHAP. ii. THE ADDER SOLD. 45 



Mrs. Kelman's husband then made his appearance. 

 "What's this, Tarn, that has caused such a flutter 

 amongst the wives?" "Only this bit beastie." 

 Kelman started back. " What, has it not bitten 

 you ? " " No ! " " Well," he added, " the best thing 

 you can do with it, is to take it to Dr. Ferguson as 

 fast as you can, for you can't be allowed to bring it 

 in here." 



Dr. Ferguson kept a druggist's shop at the corner 

 of Correction Wynd, near the head of the Green. 

 He had a number of creatures suspended in glass jars 

 in his window. Boys looked in at these wonderful 

 things. They were the admiration of the neighbours. 

 Some said that these extraordinary things had come 

 from people's " insides." Tom had often been there 

 before with big grubs, piebald snails, dragonflies, and 

 yellow puddocks. So he went to Dr. Ferguson with 

 his last new prize. 



He was by this time surrounded by a number of 

 boys like himself. They kept, however, at a respect- 

 able distance. When he moved in their direction, 

 they made a general stampede. At length he arrived 

 at the Doctor's door. When the Doctor saw the 

 wriggling thing that he was holding in his hand, he 

 ordered him out of the shop, and told him to wait in 

 the middle of the street until he had got a bottle 

 ready for the reception of the animal. Tom waited 

 until the bottle was ready, when he was told that 

 when he had gotten the snake in, he must cork the 



