Chapter 26

           Besidethewell,therewasaruin,anoldstonewall. WhenIcamebackfrommyworkthenextevening,Icaughtsightofmylittleprincefromadistance. Hewassittingontopofthewall,legsdangling. AndIheardhimtalking. "Don’tyouremember? "hewassaying. "Thisisn’texactlytheplace! "Anothervoicemusthaveansweredhimthen,forhereplied, "Ohyes,it’stherightday,butthisisn’ttheplace..." 

           Icontinuedwalkingtowardthewall. Istillcouldneitherseenorhearanyone,yetthelittleprinceansweredagain: "Ofcourse. You’llseewheremytracksbeginonthesand. Justwaitformethere. I’llbetheretonight." 

           Iwastwentyyardsfromthewallandstillsawnoone. 

           Thenthelittleprincesaid,afterasilence, "Yourpoisonisgood? You’resureitwon’tmakemesufferlong?" 

           Istoppedshort,myheartpounding,butIstilldidn’tunderstand. 

           "Nowgoaway,"thelittleprincesaid. "Iwanttogetdownfromhere!" 

           ThenIlookeddowntowardthefootofthewall,andgaveagreatstart! There,coiledinfrontofthelittleprince,wasoneofthoseyellowsnakesthatcankillyouinthirtyseconds. 

           AsIdugintomypocketformyrevolver,Isteppedback,butatthenoiseImade,thesnakeflowedoverthesandlikeatricklingfountain,andwithoutevenhurrying,slippedawaybetweenthestoneswithafaintmetallicsound. 

           Ireachedthewalljustintimetocatchmylittleprinceinmyarms,hisfacewhiteassnow. 

           "What’sgoingonhere? You’retalkingtosnakesnow?"