SWIMMING WITH A BEAR. 63 



and swung and bobbed above the swift 

 waters, a long, mossy log that lay far out 

 and far above the cool, swift river. 



Why not go down through the trees and 

 go out on that log, take off his- clothes, 

 dangle his feet, dance on the moss, do any 

 thing, everything that a boy wants to do? 



In two minutes the boy was out on the 

 big, long, mossy log, kicking his boots off, 

 and in two minutes more he was dancing 

 up and down on the humid, cool moss, and 

 as naked as the first man, when he was 

 first made. 



And it was very pleasant. The great, 

 strong river splashed and dashed and 

 boomed below; above him the long green 

 branches hung dense and luxuriant and 

 almost within reach. Far off and away 

 through their shifting shingle he caught 

 glimpses of the bluest of all blue skies. 

 And a little to the left he saw gleaming 

 in the sun and almost overhead the ever 

 lasting snows of Mount Shasta. 



Putting his boots and his clothes all 



