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 but in most cases the bite of a serpent is followed by speedy death.”

The children were much interested in my account of the snake-charmers of India, how they fearlessly handle the most deadly of the serpent tribe, the Cobra di Capello—or Hooded Cobra—cause them to move in time to musical sounds from a small pipe, twine the reptile about their arms and bare necks, and then, to prove that the poison fangs have not been removed, make them bite a fowl, which soon dies from the effects.

“How is it possible to extract the fangs, father?” asked Ernest.

“No instrument is required,” replied I; “I have read the account written by a gentleman in India, who saw a snake-charmer catch a large Cobra in the jungle, and for the purpose of removing the fangs, hold up a cloth at which the irritated snake flew, and