He had never been in the jungle himself, but several of his friends were hunters who had met the wild elephant and the tiger in the deep forests. They had chased the wildcat, and had had narrow escapes from the rhinoceros and the deadly cobra. "Did you ever see a cobra yourself, father?" asked Chin, as he listened to the stories with wide-open eyes. "Yes, indeed. It was only the other day that I watched a snake-charmer, who wound a cobra around his arm." "Please tell us about it," cried his son. "I wish I could have seen him. Wasn't he the least bit afraid?" "If he had been, he would probably have lost his life," was the answer. "He charmed the creature with music, while he swayed his body back and forth as he played. The serpent followed his motions as it listened to the strange sounds. Of course the man played with only one hand. He seized the cobra's neck with the other, after which he took out its teeth and venom-bag. When this was done the cobra was no more harmful than your kitten." "How did he do it, father?" "It was not very hard work, for he used a pair of pincers. Coolness is the most important thing. We should remember to be calm in all things, my son." "Yes, I must remember that, for I will soon be old enough to have my hair cut, and you will call me a man." "I hope I can afford to have a fine celebration. Chin, you will go to the temple, of course. The seven steps of the altar will be covered with fresh banana leaves, and figures of angels and animals will be placed there." "Do I have to walk around the altar three times, holding a wax candle in my hand?" "Yes, Chin, and then your friends will take the other candles and blow the lights out directly over your head. "After that you will be given a fresh cocoanut and a cup containing pieces of money. Music will come next." "It will be the great time of my life, father. I must think about it and get ready for it." "There are many kinds of people in our city, Chin. There are the Chinese, who live here in great numbers; there are Hindus with pride in themselves; there are the white people who come here on business, or to teach their religion to those who will listen. But Chin, we are Siamese, and we like the ways of our own country. We hear of different fashions, but ours are still the best to us." THE END. =THE LITTLE COLONEL BOOKS= (Trade Mark) _By ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON_ _Each 1 vol., large 12mo, cloth, illustrated, per vol._ $1.50 =THE LITTLE COLONEL STORIES= (Trade Mark) Being three "Little Colonel" stories in the Cosy Corner Series, "The Little Colonel," "Two Little Knights of Kentucky," and "The Giant Scissors," in a single volume. =THE LITTLE COLONEL'S HOUSE PARTY= (Trade Mark) =THE LITTLE COLONEL'S HOLIDAYS= (Trade Mark) =THE LITTLE COLONEL'S HERO= (Trade Mark) =THE LITTLE COLONEL AT BOARDING-SCHOOL= (Trade Mark)