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 



