The speaker is a male observer of nature who reflects on his encounters with a specific, elusive creature in the grass. He considers himself a friend to most animals, feeling a strong bond of cordiality with what he calls "Nature's People." Despite his attempts to view the natural world rationally and scientifically, he cannot overcome a deep-seated, instinctual terror triggered by one specific animal.

The narrow fellow is a snake playfully personified as a human-like acquaintance. He parts the tall grass as smoothly as a comb moving through hair and frequently rests in boggy areas or cool floors. His sudden, almost magical appearances and disappearances continually startle anyone who accidentally crosses his path.

The reader serves as the speaker's silent confidant. The speaker treats the reader as a fellow traveler, assuming they share common experiences and misconceptions about nature, specifically the sudden shock of encountering a snake in the wild.