CHAPTERIV
　　NormanCross-Wideexpanse-VIVEL’EMPEREUR-Unprunedwoods-
　　Manwiththebag-Frothandconceit-Ibegyourpardon-Growingtimid-Aboutthreeo’clock-Takingone’sease-Cheekontheground-Kingofthevipers-Frenchking-Frenchmenandwater。
　　ANDastrangeplaceitwas，thisNormanCross，and，atthetimeofwhichIamspeaking，asadcrosstomanyaNorman，beingwhatwasthenstyledaFrenchprison，thatis，areceptacleforcaptivesmadeintheFrenchwar。Itconsisted，ifIrememberright，ofsomefiveorsixcasernes，verylong，andimmenselyhigh；eachstandingisolatedfromtherest，uponaspotofgroundwhichmightaveragetenacres，andwhichwasfencedroundwithloftypalisades，thewholebeingcompassedaboutbyatoweringwall，beneathwhich，atintervals，onbothsides，sentinelswerestationed，whilstoutside，uponthefield，stoodcommodiouswoodenbarracks，capableofcontainingtworegimentsofinfantry，intendedtoserveasguardsuponthecaptives。SuchwasthestationorprisonatNormanCross，wheresomesixthousandFrenchandotherforeigners，followersofthegrandCorsican，werenowimmured。
　　Whatastrangeappearancehadthosemightycasernes，withtheirblankblindwalls，withoutwindowsorgrating，andtheirslantingroofs，outofwhich，throughorificeswherethetileshadbeenremoved，wouldbeprotrudeddozensofgrimheads，feastingtheirprison-sickeyesonthewideexpanseofcountryunfoldedfromthatairyheight。Ah!therewasmuchmiseryinthosecasernes；andfromthoseroofs，doubtless，manyawistfullookwasturnedinthedirectionoflovelyFrance。Muchhadthepoorinmatestoendure，andmuchtocomplainof，tothedisgraceofEnglandbeitsaid-ofEngland，ingeneralsokindandbountiful。Rationsofcarrionmeat，andbreadfromwhichIhaveseentheveryhoundsoccasionallyturnaway，wereunworthyentertainmentevenforthemostruffianenemy，whenhelplessandacaptive；andsuch，alas!wasthefareinthosecasernes。Andthen，thosevisits，orratherruthlessinroads，calledintheslangoftheplace’strawplait-hunts，’wheninpursuitofacontrabandarticle，whichtheprisoners，inordertoprocurethemselvesafewofthenecessariesandcomfortsofexistence，wereinthehabitofmaking，red-coatedbattalionsweremarchedintotheprisons，who，withthebayonet’spoint，carriedhavocandruinintoeverypoorconveniencewhichingeniouswretchednesshadbeenendeavouringtoraisearoundit；andthenthetriumphantexitwiththemiserablebooty；and，worstofall，theaccursedbonfire，onthebarrackparade，oftheplaitcontraband，beneaththeviewoftheglaringeyeballsfromthoseloftyroofs，amidstthehurrahsofthetroops，frequentlydrownedinthecursespoureddownfromabovelikeatempest-showerorintheterrificwarw-hoopof’VIVEL’EMPEREUR!’
　　Itwasmidsummerwhenwearrivedatthisplace，andtheweather，whichhadforalongtimebeenwetandgloomy，nowbecamebrightandglorious；Iwassubjectedtobutlittlecontrol，andpassedmytimepleasantlyenough，principallyinwanderingabouttheneighbouringcountry。Itwasflatandsomewhatfenny，adistrictmoreofpasturethanagriculture，andnotverythicklyinhabited。
　　Isoonbecamewellacquaintedwithit。Atthedistanceoftwomilesfromthestationwasalargelake，styledinthedialectofthecountry’amere，’aboutwhoseborderstallreedsweregrowinginabundance，thiswasafrequenthauntofmine；butmyfavouriteplaceofresortwasawildsequesteredspotatasomewhatgreaterdistance。Here，surroundedwithwoodsandthickgroves，wastheseatofsomeancientfamily，desertedbytheproprietor，andonlyinhabitedbyarusticservantortwo。Aplacemoresolitaryandwildcouldscarcelybeimagined；thegardenandwalkswereovergrownwithweedsandbriers，andtheunprunedwoodsweresotangledastobealmostimpervious。AboutthisdomainIwouldwandertillovertakenbyfatigue，andthenIwouldsitdownwithmybackagainstsomebeech，elm，orstatelyaldertree，and，takingoutmybook，wouldpasshoursinastateofunmixedenjoyment，myeyesnowfixedonthewondrouspages，nowglancingatthesylvanscenearound；andsometimesIwoulddropthebookandlistentothevoiceoftherooksandwildpigeons，andnotunfrequentlytothecroakingofmultitudesoffrogsfromtheneighbouringswampsandfens。
　　IngoingtoandfromthisplaceIfrequentlypassedatallelderlyindividual，dressedinratheraquaintfashion，withaskincaponhisheadandstoutgaitersonhislegs；onhisshouldershungamoderatesizedleathernsack；heseemedfondofloiteringnearsunnybanks，andofgropingamidstfurzeandlowscrubbybramblebushes，ofwhichtherewereplentyintheneighbourhoodofNormanCross。OnceIsawhimstandinginthemiddleofadustyroad，lookingintentlyatalargemarkwhichseemedtohavebeendrawnacrossit，asifbyawalkingstick。’Hemusthavebeenalargeone，’theoldmanmutteredhalftohimself，’orhewouldnothaveleftsuchatrail，Iwonderifheisnear；heseemstohavemovedthisway。’Hethenwentbehindsomebusheswhichgrewontherightsideoftheroad，andappearedtobeinquestofsomething，movingbehindthebusheswithhisheaddownwards，andoccasionallystrikingtheirrootswithhisfoot：atlengthheexclaimed，’Hereheis!’andforthwithIsawhimdartamongstthebushes。Therewasakindofscufflingnoise，therustlingofbranches，andthecracklingofdrysticks。’Ihavehim!’saidthemanatlast；’I
　　havegothim!’andpresentlyhemadehisappearanceabouttwentyyardsdowntheroad，holdingalargeviperinhishand。’Whatdoyouthinkofthat，myboy？’saidhe，asIwentuptohim-’whatdoyouthinkofcatchingsuchathingasthatwiththenakedhand？’
　　’WhatdoIthink？’saidI。’Why，thatIcoulddoasmuchmyself。’
　　’Youdo，’saidtheman，’doyou？Lord!howtheyoungpeopleinthesedaysaregiventoconceit；itdidnotusetobesoinmytime：whenIwasachild，childerknewhowtobehavethemselves；
　　butthechilderofthesedaysarefullofconceit，fulloffroth，likethemouthofthisviper’；andwithhisforefingerandthumbhesqueezedaconsiderablequantityoffoamfromthejawsoftheviperdownupontheroad。’Thechilderofthesedaysareagenerationof-Godforgiveme，whatwasIabouttosay？’saidtheoldman；andopeninghisbaghethrustthereptileintoit，whichappearedfarfromempty。Ipassedon。AsIwasreturning，towardstheevening，Iovertooktheoldman，whowaswendinginthesamedirection。
　　’Goodeveningtoyou，sir，’saidI，takingoffacapwhichIworeonmyhead。’Goodevening，’saidtheoldman；andthen，lookingatme，’How’sthis？’saidhe，’youaren’t，sure，thechildImetinthemorning？’’Yes，’saidI，’Iam；whatmakesyoudoubtit？’
　　’Why，youwerethenallfrothandconceit，’saidtheoldman，’andnowyoutakeoffyourcaptome。’’Ibegyourpardon，’saidI，’ifIwasfrothyandconceited；itillbecomesachildlikemetobeso。’’That’strue，dear，’saidtheoldman；’well，asyouhavebeggedmypardon，Itrulyforgiveyou。’’Thankyou，’saidI；’haveyoucaughtanymoreofthosethings？’’Onlyfourorfive，’saidtheoldman；’theyaregettingscarce，thoughthisusedtobeagreatneighbourhoodforthem。’’Andwhatdoyoudowiththem？’
　　saidI；’doyoucarrythemhomeandplaywiththem？’’IsometimesplaywithoneortwothatItame，’saidtheoldman；’butIhuntthemmostlyforthefatwhichtheycontain，outofwhichImakeunguentswhicharegoodforvarioussoretroubles，especiallyfortherheumatism。’’Anddoyougetyourlivingbyhuntingthesecreatures？’Idemanded。’Notaltogether，’saidtheoldman；
　　’besidesbeingaviper-hunter，Iamwhattheycallaherbalist，onewhoknowsthevirtueofparticularherbs；Igatherthemattheproperseason，tomakemedicineswithforthesick。’’Anddoyouliveintheneighbourhood？’Idemanded。’Youseemveryfondofaskingquestions，child。No，Idonotliveinthisneighbourhoodinparticular，Itravelabout；Ihavenotbeeninthisneighbourhoodtilllatelyforsomeyears。’
　　Fromthistimetheoldmanandmyselfformedanacquaintance；I
　　oftenaccompaniedhiminhiswanderingsabouttheneighbourhood，and，ontwoorthreeoccasions，assistedhimincatchingthereptileswhichhehunted。Hegenerallycarriedaviperwithhimwhichhehadmadequitetame，andfromwhichhehadextractedthepoisonousfangs；itwoulddanceandperformvariouskindsoftricks。Hewasfondoftellingmeanecdotesconnectedwithhisadventureswiththereptilespecies。’But，’saidheoneday，sighing，’Imustshortlygiveupthisbusiness，IamnolongerthemanIwas，Iambecometimid，andwhenapersonistimidinviper-
　　hunting，hehadbetterleaveoff，asitisquiteclearhisvirtueisleavinghim。Igotafrightsomeyearsago，whichIamquitesureIshallnevergetthebetterof；myhandhasbeenshakymoreorlesseversince。’’Whatfrightenedyou？’saidI。’Ihadbetternottellyou，’saidtheoldman，’oryoumaybefrightenedtoo，loseyourvirtue，andbenolongergoodforthebusiness。’’I
　　don’tcare，’saidI；’Idon’tintendtofollowthebusiness：I
　　daresayIshallbeanofficer，likemyfather。’’Well，’saidtheoldman，’Ioncesawthekingofthevipers，andsincethen-’
　　’Thekingofthevipers!’saidI，interruptinghim；’havethevipersaking？’’Assureaswehave，’saidtheoldman-’assureaswehaveKingGeorgetoruleoverus，havethesereptilesakingtoruleoverthem。’’Andwheredidyouseehim？’saidI。’Iwilltellyou，’saidtheoldman，’thoughIdon’tliketalkingaboutthematter。ItmaybeaboutsevenyearsagothatIhappenedtobefardownyondertothewest，ontheothersideofEngland，nearlytwohundredmilesfromhere，followingmybusiness。Itwasaverysultryday，Iremember，andIhadbeenoutseveralhourscatchingcreatures。Itmightbeaboutthreeo’clockintheafternoon，whenIfoundmyselfonsomeheathylandnearthesea，ontheridgeofahill，thesideofwhich，nearlyasfardownasthesea，washeath；
　　butonthetoptherewasarableground，whichhadbeenplanted，andfromwhichtheharvesthadbeengathered-oatsorbarley，Iknownotwhich-butIrememberthatthegroundwascoveredwithstubble。Well，aboutthreeo’clock，asItoldyoubefore，whatwiththeheatofthedayandfromhavingwalkedaboutforhoursinalazyway，Ifeltverytired；soIdeterminedtohaveasleep，andIlaidmyselfdown，myheadjustontheridgeofthehill，towardsthefield，andmybodyoverthesidedownamongsttheheath；mybag，whichwasnearlyfilledwithcreatures，layatalittledistancefrommyface；thecreatureswerestrugglinginit，I
　　remember，andIthoughttomyself，howmuchmorecomfortablyoffI