“The morning at length came after that night of horror--the morning of
the 8th of October; and never did human eye rest upon such a scene
of desolation. The vast forests, the green meadows, the flourishing
villages, the pleasant homes which a few hours before had formed one of
the happiest countries in the world, was now one vast expanse of dust
and ashes, out of which lowered the smouldering, blackened shafts of
giant pine trees that had not been all consumed. The half-burned corpses
of men, women, and children, cattle and wild beasts, strewed the
forests, and in the dried-up beds of brooks and rivers lay the blackened
bodies of burnt fishes. Six thousand square miles had been suddenly
blasted by that unparalleled fire. And all this ruin had been wrought on
that one night of horror.”
Such was the priest’s narrative of one of the most terrible fires on
record--the great fire of Miramichi; a fire most remarkable for
the astonishing rapidity of its course, and the thoroughness of its
devastation. For, apart from other more immediate evils, it ruined the
timber of all that country, turned fertile districts into barren wastes,
and annihilated in one night all the resources of a great commerce.
To all this Bart listened with deep attention, and gained from it
increased hope for Phil. For now he saw how different was this fire
from the one of which he had been hearing, and how different the
circumstances were. These woods were not dried like tinder, nor was it
possible for a fire to spread so fast but that any living being could
escape it. Besides, the woods were full of brooks and streams, and all
these streams were full of fish; and Phil had his rod and lines, and
was an expert fisherman. From all these thoughts he drew hope and
confidence.
He was greatly puzzled, however, by the disappearance of Pat and
Solomon. Their departure in the woods had greatly perplexed him, but he
hoped that he would find them on his return to Tracadie. There were no
signs of them. The night passed, but they did not make their appearance.
Morning came, but brought them not.
He did not know what to think about it, and felt perplexed. Still he had
no anxiety. Neither Pat nor Solomon was likely to come to any trouble in
the woods, for they were perfectly well able to take care of themselves.
The party was now all broken up and scattered--Phil, Pat, Solomon, and
Bart, all in different directions, and none of them knowing where the
others were. But Bart’s mind was now intent upon finding Phil; and so,
after a hurried breakfast, he got into the wagon with the priest, and
they both drove off together.
XVII.
_Phil awakes.--A morning Bath and a morning Repast.--A pleasant
Discovery.--Once more upon the Move.--The rough, impenetrable
Woods.--The River.--A new Mode of Travel.--The friendly Log.--I’m
afloat, I’m afloat.--Arrested.--The secret Place of Fire._