The Language of Beasts

Once upon a time a man had a shepherd who served him many
years faithfully and honestly. One day, whilst herding his flock, this
shepherd heard a hissing sound, coming out of the forest near by,
which he could not account for. So he went into the wood in the
direction of the noise to try to discover the cause. When he
approached the place he found that the dry grass and leaves were
on fire, and on a tree, surrounded by flames, a snake was coiled,
hissing with terror.

The shepherd stood wondering how the poor snake could escape,
for the wind was blowing the flames that way, and soon that tree
would be burning like the rest. Suddenly the snake cried: 'O
shepherd! for the love of heaven save me from this fire!'

Then the shepherd stretched his staff out over the flames and the
snake wound itself round the staff and up to his hand, and from his
hand it crept up his arm, and twined itself about his neck. The
shepherd trembled with fright, expecting every instant to be stung
to death, and said: 'What an unlucky man I am! Did I rescue you
only to be destroyed myself?' But the snake answered: 'Have no
fear; only carry me home to my father who is the King of the
Snakes.' The shepherd, however, was much too frightened to listen,
and said that he could not go away and leave his flock alone; but
the snake said: 'You need not be afraid to leave your flock, no evil
shall befall them; but make all the haste you can.'

So he set off through the wood carrying the snake, and after a time
he came to a great gateway, made entirely of snakes intertwined