A BEAR ON FIRE. 25 



part of it all was to see such little crea 

 tures as could not swim clinging all up 

 and down and not daring to take to the 

 water. 



Unlike his domesticated brother, we saw 

 several wild-cats take to the water prompt 

 ly. The wild-cat, you must know, has no 

 tail to speak of. But the panther and Cali- 

 fornian lion are well equipped in this re 

 spect and abhor the water. 



I constantly kept an eye over my shoul 

 der at the ledge or little bluff of rocks, ex 

 pecting to see a whole row of lions and 

 panthers sitting there, almost "cheek by 

 jowl" with my English friends, at any mo 

 ment. But strangely enough, we saw 

 neither panther nor lion; nor did we see 

 a single grizzly among all the bears that 

 came that way. 



We now noticed that one of the Indians 

 had become fascinated or charmed by look 

 ing too intently at the enormous serpent in 

 our midst. The snake's huge, coffin-shaped 

 head, as big as your open palm, was slowly 



