310 RAMBLES ABOUT HOME. 



a cent ; I kept my scull goin', but it didn't send the boat 

 epinnin' along as I've often done when chasin' a wound- 

 ed duck. But I did come up to the shore in time, right 

 close by the Pearson house on the hill-top, and somehow 

 everything came to me all of a sudden as the boat grated 

 on the sand. I gave a jump, clearin' the length of the 

 boat, and made for the hill-top. 6 Uz, you're a fool,' I 

 said to myself before I'd taken many steps, and came to 

 a stop. There I was, free as air, yet runnin' as though 

 the snakes was after me. Soberin' down a bit, I walked 

 back toward the boat, and peered 'round very careful, 

 I tell you. There was no sign of the snakes on land, 

 and I went close up to the boat. There the three ver- 

 min were, sure enough. I didn't know just what to do. 

 I'd left my gun in the boat, besides, forgettin' all about 

 it in my hurry ; besides, I couldn't have shot anyhow 

 without hurtin' the boat, and it was my new cedar skiff. 

 Thinkin' a minute, I cut a stout saplin', and, getting 

 near enough, I gave one of 'em a pat on the head, and 

 straightened him out, and then tackled t'other two. They 

 didn't show any fight, and I got through all right, and, 

 gettin' in my boat again, I pitched 'em out on the sand. 

 Somehow they'd a sort of natural look, now they were 

 dead, and, lookin' closer, hang me if every snake's tail 

 wasn't as smooth as a whip-lash ! Oh ! but I was mad. 

 To think of bein' scared out of my wits by next to noth- 

 in', for every one was a harmless adder. From then till 

 now I've hated snakes, and always shall." 



I laughed at his story, and he joined me, so far as to 

 smile, for Uz never laughed aloud, I believe. 



" I never supposed you saw anything that far wrong, 

 Uz," I remarked, after a pause. 



" I don't often, I believe ; but when it comes to snakes, 

 Pin sure of nothin'. It's with me, when I see snakes, as 



