CHAPTER XII.

GARTER-SNAKES--RATTLESNAKES--ANECDOTE OF A LITTLE BOY--FISHERMAN AND
SNAKE--SNAKE CHARMERS--SPIDERS--LAND-TORTOISE.


"Nurse, I have been so terrified. I was walking in the meadow, and a
great snake--so big, I am sure"--and Lady Mary held out her arms as wide
as she could--"came out of a tuft of grass. His tongue was like a scarlet
thread, and had two sharp points; and, do you know, he raised his wicked
head, and hissed at me; I was so frightened that I ran away. I think, Mrs.
Frazer, it must have been a rattlesnake. Only feel now how my heart beats"
--and the little girl took her nurse's hand, and laid it on her heart.

"What colour was the snake, my dear?" asked her nurse.

"It was green and black, chequered all over; and it was very large, and
opened its mouth very wide, and showed its red tongue. It would have
killed me if it had bitten me, would it not, nurse?"

"It would not have harmed you, my lady or even if it had bitten you, it
would not have killed you. The chequered green snake of Canada is not
poisonous. It was more afraid of you than you were of it, I make no doubt."

"Do you think it was a rattlesnake, nurse?"

"No, my dear; there are no snakes of that kind in Lower Canada, and very
few below Toronto. The winters are too cold for them, but there are plenty
in the western part of the province, where the summers are warmer, and the