STORIES OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS 



sharp as mine, but he will make you smart if you 

 are heedless enough to fall from some tumble- 

 down fence into his clutches. But if you ever 

 do, remember to put some fresh earth on the spot, 

 and it will take the pain away." 

 Dry twigs crackled, and 

 in another minute Obi ap- 

 peared, in a state of elation, 

 for he had found 

 the Duck's nest, 

 and the Ducks were 

 hatched, and would 

 soon leave to go 

 down to water. He 

 was carrying a thick 

 snake that he had 

 killed, holding it 

 carefully by the 

 tip of its tail. 



"Please drop that 

 horrid thing, Obi," screamed Tomn^-Anne. 

 "I'm sure it "is one of those wicked rattle- 

 snakes." 



" Oh no, it isn't. I killed it on purpose to show 

 you the difference, so that you need not be afraid 

 of them ; for there are plenty of this kind here- 

 abouts. Don't shiver and shake so : it's stone 



