One wintry day a Woodman was tramping home from his work when he
saw something black lying on the snow. When he came closer he saw
it was a Serpent to all appearance dead. But he took it up and put
it in his bosom to warm while he hurried home.
As soon as he got indoors he put the Serpent down on the hearth before
the fire. The children watched it and saw it slowly come to life again.
Then one of them stooped down to stroke it, but thc Serpent raised
its head and put out its fangs and was about to sting the child to
death.
So the Woodman seized his axe, and with one stroke cut the Serpent
in two. "Ah," said he,
"No gratitude from the wicked."
