60 The Adder Sold. [CHAP. II. 
admiration of the neighbors. Some said that these ex- 
traordinary things had come from people’s “ insides.” Tom 
had often been there before with big grubs, piebald snails, 
dragon-flies, and yellow puddocks. So he went to Dr. Fer- 
guson with his last new prize. 
He was by this time surrounded by a number of boys 
like himself. They kept, however, at a respectable dis- 
tance. When he moved in their direction they made a 
general stampede. At length he arrived at the doctor’s 
door. When the doctor saw the wrigglng thing that he 
was holding in his hand, he ordered him out of the shop, 
and told him to wait in the middle of the street until he 
had got a bottle ready for the reception of the animal. 
Tom waited until the bottle was ready, when he was told 
that when he had got the snake in he must cork the bot- 
tle as firmly as possible. The adder was safely got in and 
handed to the doctor, who gave Tom fourpence for the 
treasure. Next day it appeared in the window, to the gen- 
eral admiration of the inhabitants. 
Tom hastened home with his fourpence. On entering 
the house, he encountered his father, who seized him by the 
neck, and asked, ‘‘ Where’s that venomous beast that you 
had?” “T left it with Dr. Ferguson.” “But have you 
no more??? “No.” “That's very strange! You seldom 
come home with so few things about you. But we shall 
see.” The boy was then taken into the back yard, where 
he was ordered to strip. Every bit of clothing was shaken, 
examined, and searched; the father standing by with a 
stick. Nothing was found, and Tom was allowed to put 
on his clothes and go up-stairs to bed. 
