The Little Prince (102)

The Little Prince (102)

   After a silence the little prince spoke again.

  " You have good poison ? You are sure that it will not make me suffer too long ? "

  I stopped  in my tracks, my heart torn asunder ; but still I did not understand.

  " Now go away, " said the little princes

  " I want to get down from the wall."

  I dropped my eyes, then tithe foot of the wall ー and I leaped into the air.

  There before me, facing the little prince was one of those yellow snakes that take just thirty seconds to bring your life to an end.

  Even as I was digging into my pocket to get out my revolver I made a running step back.

  But, at the noise I made, the snake let himself flow easily across the sand like the dying spray of a fountain, and, in no apparent hurry, disappeared, with a light metallic sounds among the stones.

(102)