of 



occasionally looked toward the oncoming dan- 

 ger. Their actions showed curiosity and anger, 

 but not alarm. Each duly took notice of the 

 surrounding animals, and one old grizzly even 

 struck viciously at a snarling coyote. Two 

 black bear cubs, true to their nature, had a 

 merry romp. Even these serious conditions 

 could not make them solemn. Each tried to 

 prevent the other from climbing a tree that 

 stood alone in the open; around this tree they 

 clinched, cuffed, and rolled about so merrily 

 that the frightened wild folks were attracted 

 and momentarily forgot their fears. The only 

 birds seen were some grouse that whirred and 

 sailed by on swift, definite wings; they were 

 going somewhere. 



With subdued and ever-varying roar the fire 

 steadily advanced. It constantly threw off an 

 upcurling, unbroken cloud of heavy smoke that 

 hid the flames from view. Now and then a 

 whirl of wind brought a shower of sparks to- 

 gether with bits of burning bark out over the 

 open valley. 



Just as the flames were reaching the margin 

 144 



