72 THE CROSS-BILL AND THE LITTLE WARBLER. 
watches the frightful scene around. The pine 
trunks are left standing, like pillars of fire ; 
or fall against each other, and send up a 
volume of sparks. But the fire has passed 
him by, and he sees it pursuing its course in 
the distance. He has escaped its fury ; but he 
has lost his hut, his cattle, and all that he 
possessed, and must begin the world afresh. 
He is too thankful for his deliverance to 
murmur. As soon as it is safe for him to 
venture, he makes his way to a part of the 
forest where the fire has not been. He builds 
another hut ; the settlers in this new place 
listen with interest to the recital of his mis- 
fortunes ; and give him all the help they can. 
He is able to work ; and soon gets back his 
cattle, and the few possessions he has lost. 
And the tract of forest recovers from its deso- 
lation. There is a new growth of trees ; and 
it is an extraordinary fact, that these trees are 
of many different kinds, but not a single pine 
or fir is to be found amongst them. This is 
one of nature's secrets, and man has not been 
able to unravel it. 
