A FOREST OX FIRE. 15 



be able to strike out at once towards the desired 

 point. 



A man, when lost in the forest — ^ greenhorns ' I 

 mean, who cannot steer witlioiit a compass — invariably 

 bears to the left; though I am not aware that there 

 is any positive or decided reason for so doing.* But 

 still this is a fact which has often been proved by 

 experienced trackers, both white and red, "who have 

 in many instances traced lost persons to some spot not 

 far from the point of departure. 



Sometimes grand sights are seen in the woods : — a 

 dense jungle or cane-break is set on fire, perhaps by 

 lightening, or by the carelessness of some hunter. 

 Thousands of acres will fall a prey to the flames ; and 

 the sight once seen, will never be forgotten. 



High above everything, rising up towards the sky 

 of deep blue, roll dense masses of smoke. Below, the 

 red flames leap and twist and twine round the trees 

 like thousands of huge fiery serpents, as they consume 

 the light vines, and scorch the branches of the oaks. 

 The canes blaze and crack with a loud noise, much 

 resembling a continued fire of musketry. At once 

 the wild inhabitants of the wood, both four-footed and 

 winged, fly for their lives, in frantic terror. The 

 clumsy bear, although he looks so slow and heavy, 



* The left leg being generally less powerful than the right, may, 

 insensibly of course, be outpaced by the stronger limb. This is mere 

 supposition, but it may account for it. 



