“What is it, then?” said Oliver, laughingly quoting from an old book—“a vegetable?”
“Well, no, sir, but it does look some’at like a sort o’ liquorice stick as the boys used to buy to chew when we went to school.”
“It looks more like what it is,” said Oliver, “a very dangerous viper, and I warn you both to be very careful about meddling with such things again.”
“But you see it was such a little ’un, sir,” said Wriggs, apologetically.
“None the less dangerous, and you’ve had a very narrow escape,” said Oliver. Then noting the men’s disappointed looks, he continued—
“But I’m very grateful to you all the same. It was very thoughtful of you, Wriggs, and I am glad to have it to add to my collection.”
“Then you won’t chuck it away, sir?” said Wriggs, brightening up.
“Throw it away—a rare specimen of a poisonous snake? Most decidedly not. I shall put it in my tin of spirit, and preserve it carefully.”
“Seems most a pity to waste good liquor on such a wicious little beggar, don’t it, sir?”
“By no means,” said Oliver, smiling. “There, I hope I shall have the pleasure of showing it to one of our best zoologists. Now, Smith, let’s have a look at yours.”