292 IN A LOG CAMP 



burned. Then suddenly came the dreaded 

 cry from below us, half a mile off, and every 

 man about the camp seized pail or shovel 

 and hurried away. At night they came back, 

 begrimed, scorched, and half dead with 

 fatigue, and said they had got it so choked 

 off that it would not reach us that night at 

 any rate. 



Already the evening fish and bear stories 

 gave place to tales of this one terror of the 

 woods. It was said that birch-trees, of which 

 these woods are full, are veritable incendia- 

 ries ; that when the bark begins to burn, it 

 curls away from the trunk, comes off in 

 great flakes, and is carried by the wind to 

 other trees, and so spreads the flames. With 

 a strong wind blowing night and day, and 

 the whole state as dry as tinder, this was not 

 cheering news. 



The next day new terrors : fire broke out 

 nearer, on the railroad itself, our way out. 

 The ties were blazing, and a train which 

 came up could not pass because of warped 

 rails, and had to go back. 



Still I lingered, loath to leave the beauti- 

 ful spot, and looking and hoping for the 



