Here and there charred trunks stood like the chimneys of burned houses, and others lay upon the ground like fallen and smoking rafters.

Scattered about were great beds of living coals, where the brush had been thickest, and smoke rose in columns from the burned grass and hot earth.

It was all like some great temple destroyed by fire; and such it was, the grandest of all temples, the natural temple of the forest.
"We kindled that fire," said Paul.
"I guess we did," responded Henry, "but we didn't know our spark would grow into so great a blaze." They swam to the bank and walked toward the remains of the forest.

But the ground was still hot to their feet, and the smoke troubled them.
Near the edge of the wood they found a deer still alive and with a broken leg, tripped in its panic-stricken flight or struck by a fallen tree.

Henry approached cautiously and slew him with his clasp knife.