And it was evident that the men thought that they could do so without subjecting themselves to legal penalties.

As far as Harry Heathcote could see, they were correct in their view.

He could have no right to burn the grass on Boolabong.

He had no claim even to be there.

It was true that he could plead that he was stopping the fire which they had purposely made; but they could prove his handiwork, whereas it would be almost impossible that he should prove theirs.
The whole forest was not red, but lurid, with the fires, and the air was laden with both the smell and the heat of the conflagration.