SWIMMING WITH A BEAR. 68

and swung and bobbed above the swift
waters, a long, mossy log that lay far out
and far above the cool, swift river.

Why not go down through the trees and
go out on that log, take off his clothes,
dangle his feet, dance on the moss, do any-
thing, everything that a. boy wants to do?

In two minutes the boy was out on the
big, long, mossy log, kicking his boots off,
and in two minutes more he was dancing
up and down on the humid, cool moss, and
as naked as the first man, when he was.
first made.

And it was very pleasant. The great,
strong river splashed and dashed and
boomed below; above him the long green
branches hung dense and luxuriant and
almost within reach. Far off and away
through their shifting shingle he caught
glimpses of the bluest of all blue skies.
. And a little to the left he saw gleaming
in the sun and almost overhead the ever-
lasting snows of Mount Shasta.

Putting his boots and his clothes all