Smoldering fires covered the
ground, and the trees stood like pillars of fire, or fell across each
other.
The stifling and sickening smoke still rushed over us, and the burnt
cinders and ashes fell thick around us.
When morning came, every thing about us was calm; but a dismal smoke
still filled the air, and the smell seemed worse than ever. What was to
become of us I did not know.
My wife hugged the child to her breast, and wept bitterly; but God had
preserved us through the worst of the danger, and the flames had gone
past, so I thought it would be both ungrateful to Him and unmanly to
despair now.
Hunger once more pressed upon us, but this was soon remedied. Several
deer were standing in the water, up to the head, and I shot one of them.
Some of its flesh was soon roasted, and after eating it we felt
wonderfully strengthened.
By this time the blaze of the burning forest was beyond our sight,
although the remains of the fires of the night before were still burning
in many places, and it was dangerous to go among the burnt trees.
After resting for some time, we prepared to commence our march.
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