The Wit of the Wild 



r 



yell," as if he had touched an electric button, 

 by the remark : " That's a half -grown copper- 

 head!" 



Another time I saw a lady stumble over a small 

 copperhead, and positively disentangle it from 

 her dancing feet without being bitten. Prob- 

 ably this snake was as much disconcerted as 

 the other had been soothed. 



These incidents illustrate what you can do 

 with even a rattlesnake sometimes; but it is a 

 mighty unsafe experiment to indulge. You 

 can make no bargain with a viper! Which 

 brings me back to my snake in the grass the 

 first I had ever encountered. 



Certainly this copperhead must be dispatched 

 but how? 



I could see no club anywhere near. I had in 

 my pocket a new knife which had lately been 

 given to me with a lovely desire to please, 

 but very poor judgment in cutlery. The first 

 time I had used it the blade had turned up as if 

 it were tin. Nevertheless, with it I gradually 

 hacked off a stout oak sapling a very fair 

 snake-stick. 



*$ 90 



