Michael Scott

In the early part of Michael Scott's life he was in the habit of
emigrating annually to the Scottish metropolis, for the purpose of being
employed in his capacity of mason. One time as he and two companions
were journeying to the place of their destination for a similar object,
they had occasion to pass over a high hill, the name of which is not
mentioned, but which is supposed to have been one of the Grampians, and
being fatigued with climbing, they sat down to rest themselves. They had
no sooner done so than they were warned to take to their heels by the
hissing of a large serpent, which they observed revolving itself towards
them with great velocity. Terrified at the sight, Michael's two
companions fled, while he, on the contrary, resolved to encounter the
reptile. The appalling monster approached Michael Scott with distended
mouth and forked tongue; and, throwing itself into a coil at his feet,
was raising its head to inflict a mortal sting, when Michael, with one
stroke of his stick, severed its body into three pieces. Having rejoined
his affrighted comrades, they resumed their journey; and, on arriving at
the next public-house, it being late, and the travellers being weary,
they took up their quarters at it for the night. In the course of the
night's conversation, reference was naturally made to Michael's recent
exploit with the serpent, when the landlady of the house, who was
remarkable for her "arts," happened to be present. Her curiosity
appeared much excited by the conversation; and, after making some
inquiries regarding the colour of the serpent, which she was told was
white, she offered any of them that would procure her the middle piece
such a tempting reward, as induced one of the party instantly to go for
it. The distance was not very great; and on reaching the spot, he found
the middle and tail piece in the place where Michael left them, but the
head piece was gone.

The landlady on receiving the piece, which still vibrated with life,
seemed highly gratified at her acquisition; and, over and above the
promised reward, regaled her lodgers very plentifully with the choicest
dainties in her house. Fired with curiosity to know the purpose for
which the serpent was intended, the wily Michael Scott was immediately
seized with a severe fit of indisposition, which caused him to prefer the
request that he might be allowed to sleep beside the fire, the warmth of
which, he affirmed, was in the highest degree beneficial to him.

Never suspecting Michael Scott's hypocrisy, and naturally supposing that
a person so severely indisposed would feel very little curiosity about
the contents of any cooking utensils which might lie around the fire, the
landlady allowed his request. As soon as the other