MARCH OF THE FLAMES. 261 



up a cloud of sparks and cinders and ashes. Sweeping 

 along on its terrible path, the tramp of that confla- 

 gration filled the air with an uproar like the bursting 

 of billows on a rocky shore. 



In one direction the forest made down into a valley 

 through which coursed a rapid stream, on the farther 

 side of which arose a mountain of rocks, almost naked 

 from base to summit. Trees and shrubs, however, 

 had grown in the interstices, but the drought had 

 killed them all, and the white and withered stems 

 could scarcely be distinguished from the bleached 

 rocks against which they grew. 



Along this valley the conflagration swept ; and, 

 skirting the bank of the stream with fearful velocity, 

 and licking up everything to the water's brink ; went 

 for a while careering onward as if satisfied with the 

 field before it. But suddenly there seemed to be a 

 division of the forces — while one portion was content 

 with a direct invasion, the other made a halt as if re- 

 solved on a more desperate attack. The white, dry 

 mountain on the opposite side of the stream had at- 

 tracted its attention ; and clearing the channel with 

 one bold bound, it began to scale the opposing cliffs. 

 As the flames got amongst this vast collection of com- 



