AMONG THE HILLS. 61 



them, for sale. In some localities these are much 

 finer than in others : you will see some of the chil- 

 dren, more knowing than the rest, quit their compan- 

 ions and make for the warm moist slopes at the 

 foot of hills covered with a luxuriant growth of fern. 

 Under the fronds the whole ground is black with the 

 berries ; the youngsters just throw themselves down 

 and fill their baskets as they lie there. Vipers, or red 

 adders, as the bairns call them, are plentiful enough. 

 I know that from my own observation ; but I never 

 heard and I have made frequent inquiries on this 

 point of any woodland child or grown-up person that 

 had been really injured by one. Viper-oil adder-ile 

 you would find in all the woodmen's cottages. The 

 bottle containing it is always suspended by a leathern 

 thong fastened round its neck, just under the gun 

 that hangs above the fireplace. " And there they 

 must bide, without being meddled with," the children 

 will tell you ; " fur dad sez ef one on us meddles with 

 they, he'll give us a quiltin' as ull last us a week an' 

 he wud too.' 



This oil is most highly valued by them as a 

 sovereign remedy for many complaints. 



" I wouldn't take two suvrins for that ere lot of 



