He rose on his elbow and peered about, but the darkness came right up to the ash-heaps, looking white now instead of red.

He placed a handful of dry reeds on the nearest heap and blew.

There was a glow, a flicker, and then a flare.

In the reflection he saw dimly a patch of white, then another patch next it.

This roused him, so that he set all the four fires going again, and, with his rifle ready, he stood up to see what manner of visitors these were with the white marks.
He had heard slight noises as he fed the fires, and now the reeds rustled, but he could see no living form.