CHAPTER VI.
THE SNAKE'S "MYRMIDON".
For a couple of years and more, in the lower School at Wellingborough, Damocles de Warrenne, like certain States, was happy in that he had no history.

In games rather above the average, and in lessons rather below it, he was very popular among his fellow "squeakers" for his good temper, modesty, generous disposition, and prowess at football and cricket.
Then, later, dawned the day when from this comfortable high estate a common adder, preserved in spirits of wine, was the cause of his downfall and Bully Harberth the means of his reinstatement....
One afternoon Mr.Steynker, the Science Master, for some reason and without preliminary mention of his intent, produced a bottled specimen of a snake.

He entered the room with the thing under his arm and partly concealed by the sleeve of his gown.

Watching him as he approached the master's desk and spoke with Mr.Colfe, the form-master, Dam noted that he had what appeared to be a long oblong glass box of which the side turned towards him was white and opaque.
When Mr.Steynker stepped on to the dais, as Mr.Colfe took up his books and departed, he placed the thing on the desk with the other side to the class....
And there before Dam's starting, staring eyes, fastened to the white back of the tall glass box, and immersed in colourless liquid was the Terror.
He rose, gibbering, to his feet, pale as the dead, and pointed, mopping and mowing like an idiot.
How should a glass box restrain the Fiend that had made his life a Hell upon earth?
What did Steynker and Colfe and these others--all gaping at him open-mouthed--know of the Devil with whom he had wrestled deep beneath the Pit itself for ten thousand centuries of horror--centuries whose every moment was an aeon?
What could these innocent men and boys know of the living Damnation that made him pray to die--provided only that he could be _really_ dead and finished, beyond all consciousness and fear.

The fools!...