BRITISH REPTILES 97 
this indicates crepuscular habits at least it appears 
generally to do so. 
' We're goin' to hev a middlin' spell o' hot weather 
yet, I knows,' was the remark made by my woodland 
companion, Waggle. 
' How do you know that ? ' 
' Why, them 'ere crawlers is comin' from the hills 
down inter the holler, fur tu git drink ; they bin comin' 
fur this two days. I see 'em crossin' the road lots o' 
times yesterday. Cuss them things ! they gives me 
the creeps. You ain't never goin there, be ye ? You'll 
come to mischief some o' these days over them var- 
mints. I'm a comin' with ye, I ain't a' goin' tu back 
out, after tellin' ye on it, not me. But I say, old 
feller, if we does run up agin one, don't you hive him ; 
that 'ere last hivin' job did fur me. Why, if anybody 
had offered me fifty gold suvrins I culd'nt 'a done it' 
We were walking down the dell track very 
unconcernedly, and in an unobservant manner, when 
my companion yelled : 
' Look out ! * and from some red-brown fallen 
bramble-leaves, over the toe of my shoe, shot the 
largest viper I have ever seen. 
' Cum back, I tell ye ! Damn the thing ! you ain't 
a goin' tu tackle that ; its most natur'ly sure tu be the 
death on ye, let go on it ! ' 
H 
