varying slope and forest conditions in the moun- 

 tains are constantly changing the speed and the 

 enthusiasm of a fire. Where all conditions are 

 favorable, it sweeps level stretches at a mile- 

 a-minute speed and rolls up slopes with the 

 speed of sound! 



One evening I climbed a high ridge that stood 

 about half a mile in front of a heavily forested 

 peninsula which the fire-front would reach in a 

 few hours. The fire was advancing across the 

 valley with a front of about two miles. On 

 arriving at the top of the ridge, I came up be- 

 hind a grizzly bear seated on his haunches like 

 a dog, intently watching the fire below. On 

 discovering me he took a second look before 

 concentrating his mind on a speedy retreat. 

 Along the ridge about a quarter of a mile dis- 

 tant, a number of mountain sheep could be seen 

 through the falling ashes, with heads toward 

 the fire, but whether they were excited or simply 

 curious could not be determined. 



The forested peninsula which extended from 

 between two forested cafions had a number 

 of meadow openings on the slopes closest to me. 



142 



