140 Trails to Woods and Waters 



find it impossible to escape. No sight is 



* 



more majestic or terrible than that of a forest 

 fire, especially when the winds fan the flames, 

 which leap from treetop to treetop, crowning 

 the forest with a wreath of brass, while its 

 denizens flee to lakes and streams for shelter, 

 some going slowly, but others on the wings 

 of the wind. 



The part that fire has played in the rela- 

 tions of man and beast is most important. 

 Many an unfortunate traveller has defended 

 himself effectually from wolves, with a few 

 bright flames, when powder and ball have 

 failed. 



One evening after supper, we lighted our 

 jack, and pushed off in a canoe to try what 

 magic there was in fire. 



The night was wonderfully still, just as it 

 frequently is in autumn, when the constella- 

 tions are bright, and the Hunter's Moon is at 

 its full. There were plenty of night sounds, 

 such as the unearthly laughing of a loon, or 

 the hooting of an owl, but when the wilder- 

 ness had again lapsed into silence, it seemed 



