One savage who had picked up a brand from one of the little fires dropped some of the stuff on it, and it crackled merrily.

He grinned at me--a slow, diabolical grin.
They lashed me to the stake with ropes of green vine.

Then they piled dry hay a foot deep around me, and laid above it wood and green branches.

To make the fuel still greener, they poured water on it.

At the moment I did not see the object of these preparations, but now I can understand it.