Angling in the Siskiyous 241 



lying dead in the road, having been run over, 

 and it occurred to me that snakes were some- 

 what numerous. Still I was innocent of what 

 was coming. One little home had a roadway 

 which seemed to lead down to the river; so I 

 turned in and encountered two snakes in the 

 road. They moved on, and I proceeded and be- 

 came suddenly aware of a peculiar rustling on 

 either side. I moved to the fence, first one side 

 and then to the other. It is easier to tell a big 

 fish story, but I am going to tell this, and it 

 is true. 



I seemed to be literally surrounded by snakes, 

 more than I had ever seen in all my life. As 

 I looked over the fence they moved away in 

 groups, dark brownish creatures that wound in 

 and out in the grass, some near my feet, and 

 I counted until I knew my story would not be 

 credited, then I passed to the opposite side to 

 see as many more. I could not fix my eyes upon 

 a spot in that little pseudo-garden without " see- 

 ing snakes." They lay in a dry water run, 

 singly, and in balls. I remained long enough 

 to appreciate the sensation and withdrew taking 

 the middle of the road. My companion, who had 

 retreated, having decided opinions on snakes, 

 now called my attention to a stone wall of the 

 old time New England variety, only made of 

 lava. Approaching it, I saw a ball of snakes 

 lying on top of it, and in the nooks and crannies 



16 



