You must get a thoroughly rotten one, and cut away a portion of the under side; it will be dry enough, there." "You might get a little of that to start with," Roger said; "but the ground is covered everywhere with fir cones, and there is no better stuff for fires." Taking off his cloak he laid it down, and they both piled the fir cones on this, until a great heap was collected.

This they carried into their shelter, through an opening they had left in the penthouse.
"We must have something dry to start it with.

These cones are a great deal too wet to burn, without a good heat to start them.

There is nothing better than the fir needles, master, if we can find some dry ones." After some searching, a considerable number of these needles were collected; some lying under fallen trees, and others swept by the wind into rocky corners, where the rain had not reached them.
"Now I think that we shall do, Roger." As soon as they were inside, Roger produced a large lump of dry fungus he had found, on the other side of the Severn; and, by the aid of his flint and steel, soon succeeded in striking sparks upon it.

As soon as these began to spread, he put a little pile of fir needles on it; and, blowing gently, bright flames soon darted up.