Village books

The stiffness broke away from the snake suddenly, and
it lifted its head and raised its long body till it stood almost on the
tip of its tail, and it swayed slowly to and fro.
Oliver Haddo seemed extraordinarily fascinated. He leaned forward with
eager face, and his unnatural eyes were fixed on the charmer with an
indescribable expression. Margaret drew back in terror.
'You need not be frightened,' said Arthur. 'These people only work with
animals whose fangs have been extracted.'
Oliver Haddo looked at him before answering. He seemed to consider each
time what sort of man this was to whom he spoke.
'A man is only a snake-charmer because, without recourse to medicine, he
is proof against the fangs of the most venomous serpents.'
'Do you think so?' said Arthur.
'I saw the most noted charmer of Madras die two hours after he had been
bitten by a cobra,' said Haddo. I had heard many tales of his prowess,
and one evening asked a friend to take me to him. He was out when we
arrived, but we waited, and presently, accompanied by some friends, he
came.


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