“Here and there,” said I, “and far and near, going about with the soldiers; but there is no soldiering now, so we have sat down, father and family, in the town there.”
“And do you still hunt snakes?” said Jasper.
“No,” said I; “I have given up that long ago; I do better now: read books and learn languages.”
“Well, I am sorry you have given up your snake-hunting; many’s the strange talk I have had with our people about your snake and yourself, and how you frightened my father and mother in the lane.”
“And where are your father and mother?”
“Where I shall never see them, brother; at least, I hope so.”
“Not dead?”
“No, not dead; they are bitchadey pawdel.”
“What’s that?”
“Sent across—banished.”