234 THE SALAMANDER. 



into a good fire. The reptile slipped, like lightning, through 

 the coals, and ran away apparently unhurt. Thus we see 

 there is some degree of truth in the fable of the salamander, 

 and, indeed, we shall find, that most of the imaginary ac- 

 counts of the ancients rest upon some foundation, however 

 slight it may be. 



