gathering fruit and digging roots, for 

 an hour or two, when the smoke grew 

 blacker, the smell of fire stronger. He 

 worked away from it, but in no haste. 

 The birds, deer, and wood hares 

 were now seen scurrying past him. 

 There was a roaring in the air. It 

 grew louder, was coming nearer, and 

 Jack turned to stride after the wood 

 things that fled. 



The whole forest was ablaze; the 

 wind was rising, and the flames, gain- 

 ing and spreading, were flying now like 

 wild horses. Jack had no place in his 

 brain for such a thing; but his in- 

 stinct warned him to shun that com- 

 ingroaring that sent above dark clouds 

 and flying fire-flakes, and messengers 

 of heat below, so he fled before it, as 

 the forest host was doing. Fast as he 

 went, and few animals can outrun a 

 Grizzly in rough country, the hot hur- 



