Uncle Dick and Lisa's Old Time Animal Tales

Unless the Brazilians are guilty of very large story-telling, the snake they call the surucucu is braver far more than the buffalo, for it is averred that, if a fire be kindled in the woods, these creatures glide out of their hiding-places, dash straight at the obnoxious thing, and scatter its embers with their tails; persisting, even through half roasted, until the fire is utterly extinguished. If a man carries a torch near their haunts, they pass and repass him, lashing his legs until he drops it, when a surucucu immediately coils itself about it and puts out the flame. A diminutive terrier of our acquaintance used to act on the same principle, although his hatred of fire was a limited one. He had no objection to it in its proper place, and would complacently contemplate the parlor fire, let it blaze never so merrily, without so much as a wink; but the sight of a lighted piece of paper roused Tiny’s ire and set him to barking grievously and if the paper was thrown on the floor, he went for it at once, deftly contriving to stamp out the flame without burning his toes.