FIRES. 
161 
ing round immediately after the whirlwind had 
passed, a prodigious column of fire now ap¬ 
peared in a part of the wood where some 
brushwood had been burning; in many places 
the flames rose considerably above the summit 
of the trees, which were of a large growth. 
It was a tremendous, and at the same time 
sublime sight, The negroes on the surrounding 
plantations were all assembled with their hoes, 
and watches were stationed at every corner to 
give the alarm if the fire appeared elsewherej 
lest the conflagration should become general. 
To one plantation a spark was carried by the 
wind more than half a mile; happily, how¬ 
ever, a torrent of rain in a short time afterwards 
came pouring down, and enabled the people 
to extinguish the flames in every quarter. 
When these fires do not receive a timely 
check, they sometimes increase to a most 
alarming height; and if the grass aod dead 
leaves happen to be very dry, and the wind 
brisk, proceed with so great velocity that th& 
swiftest runners are often overtaken in endea¬ 
vouring to escape from the flames. Indeed I 
have met with people, on whose veracity the 
greatest dependence might be placed, that have 
assured me they have found it a difficult task, 
at times, to get out of the reach of them, 
though mounted on good horses. 
There is but one mode of stopping a fir® 
YOE. I. M 
