208 OUR NATIONAL PARKS 



had no right in the cabin. It was not only fear 

 that he showed, but a good deal of downright 

 bashfulness and embarrassment, like that of a 

 more than half honest person caught under sus- 

 picious circumstances behind a door. Instead 

 of striking or threatening to strike, though 

 coiled and ready, he slowly drew his head down 

 as far as he could, with awkward, confused kinks 

 in his neck and a shamefaced expression, as if 

 wishing the ground would open and hide him. 

 I have looked into the eyes of so many wild 

 animals that I feel sure I did not mistake the 

 feelings of this unfortunate snake. I did not 

 want to kill him, but I had many visitors, some 

 of them children, and I oftentimes came in late 

 at night ; so I judged he must die. 



Since then I have seen perhaps a hundred or 

 more in these mountains, but I have never in- 

 tentionally disturbed them, nor have they dis- 

 turbed me to any great extent, even by accident, 

 though in danger of being stepped on. Once, 

 while I was on my knees kindling a fire, one 

 glided under the arch made by my arm. He 

 was only going away from the ground I had se- 

 lected for a camp, and there was not the slight- 

 est danger, because I kept still and allowed him 

 to go in peace. The only time I felt myself in 

 serious danger was when I was coming out of 

 the Tuolumne Canon by a steep side canon to- 

 ward the head of Yosemite Creek. On an 



