Also in the warm season it was a keen pleasure to
find the cast slough of the feared and subtle creature. Here was
something not the serpent, yet so much more than a mere picture of it;
a dead and cast-off part of it, but in its completeness, from the
segmented mask with the bright unseeing eyes, to the fine whip-like
tail end, so like the serpent itself; I could handle it, handle the
serpent as it were, yet be in no danger from venomous tooth or
stinging tongue. True, it was colourless, but silvery bright, soft as
satin to the touch, crinkling when handled with a sound that to the
startled fancy recalled the dangerous living hiss from the dry
rustling grass! I would clutch my prize with a fearful joy, as if I
had picked up a strange feather dropped in passing from the wing of
one of the fallen but still beautiful angels. And it always increased
my satisfaction when, on exhibiting my treasure at home, the first
sight of it caused a visible start or an exclamation of alarm.
When my courage and strength were sufficient I naturally began to take
an active part in the persecution of serpents; for was not I also of
the seed of Eve? Nor can I say when my feelings towards our bruised
enemy began to change; but an incident which I witnessed at this time,
when I was about eight, had, I think, a considerable influence on me.
Pages:
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244