The demon of destruction
spread its red wings to the blast, rushing on with fiery speed; and soon
hill and valley were wrapped in one sheet of flame.
"It must have been the work of the Indians," said Louis. "We had better
make a retreat to the island, in case of the fire crossing the valley. We
must not neglect the canoe; if the fire sweeps round by the swamp, it may
come upon us unawares, and then the loss of the canoe would prevent escape
by the lake. But here are the girls; let us consult them.
"It is the Indian burning," said Indiana; "that is the reason there are so
few big trees on that hill; they burn it to make the grass better for the
deer."
Hector had often pointed out to Louis the appearance of fire having
scorched the bark of the trees, where they were at work, but it seemed to
have been many years back; and when they were digging for the site of the
root-house [Footnote: Root-houses are built over deep excavations below the
reach of the frost, or the roots stored would be spoiled.] below the bank,
which they had just finished, they had met with charred wood, at the depth
of six feet below the soil, which must have lain there till the earth had
accumulated over it; a period of many years must necessarily have passed
since the wood had been burned, as it was so much decomposed as to crumble
beneath the wooden shovel which they were digging with.
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