A BEAR ON FIRE. 23

over the steep little bluff of rocks behind
us, into our midst.

But now note this fact—every man
there, red or white, saw or felt that huge
and noiseless monster the very second she
slid among us. For as I looked, even as I
first looked, and then turned to see what
the others would say or do, they were all
looking at the glittering eyes set in that
coffin-like head.

The Indians did not move back or seem
nearly so much frightened as when they
saw the drift of embers and dead beasts in
the river before them; but the florid En-
glishmen turned white! They. resolutely
arose, thrust their hands in their pockets
and stood leaning their backs hard against
the steep bluff. Then another snake, long,
black and beautiful, swept his supple neck
down between them and thrust his red
tongue forth—as if a bit of the flames had
already reached us.

Fortunately, this particular “wisest of
all the beasts of the field,” was not dis-