174 LUXURY OF A SWIM. 



a new hold, a process which is repeated till the 

 entire carcass has been absorbed. The teeth, there- 

 fore, are not used to masticate, but to assist in 

 swallowing, a fact which is proved by the circum- 

 stance that the frog was found alive after having 

 been fifteen minutes in the reptile's stomach. From 

 the position and shape of a snake's teeth, I am very 

 much inclined to believe, that, if so disposed, it 

 could not eject a large prey from its mouth after 

 once having obtained a good hold of it, more espe- 

 cially if it were of sufficient size to cause the least 

 expansion of the jaws. 



At sunset we saw in the distance a yellow line 

 of light, and beyond it a dark fringe of trees indi- 

 cations of our approach to the mighty Missouri. A 

 violent storm of rain came on during the night ; 

 and our horses, which were very gaunt, looked most 

 wretched. We determined, therefore, not to make 

 a renewal of our journey without a day's rest ; and, 

 as our arms required cleaning, and our clothing and 

 mocassins would be better of some repairs, we had 

 sufficient grounds for this delay. 



Previous to taking my morning meal, I went up 

 to a pool I had observed the previous evening, to 

 enjoy the luxury of a swim. Although, after divest- 

 ing myself of my clothes, the atmosphere felt very 

 chill almost so much so as to cause me to postpone 

 my intention I screwed up my courage with an 

 effort, and took a header off the bank into deep 

 water. Ere I had taken a few strokes, I felt 



