"Sticks, Annie! Johnnie! Davy! get sticks, I say, and we'll make an
oven."
Annie obeyed; but the two little boys were intent on imitating Sam on
another side of the fire, and Johnnie uttered a gruff "Get 'em
yourself," while David took no notice at all.
Perhaps Hal would have betaken himself to no gentle means if Susan
had not hastily put in his way a plentiful supply of dead wood, which
she had been letting little George think he picked up all himself;
and there was keen excitement, which Christabel could not help
sharing, while under Sam's breath the red edges of the half-burnt
chip glowed, flushed, widened, then went sparkling doubtfully,
slowly, to the light bit of potato-stalk that he held to it, glowing
as he blew--fading, smoking, when he took breath. Try again--puff,
puff, puff diligently; the fire evidently has a taste for the
delicate little shaving that Annie has found for it; it seizes on it;
another--another; a flame at last. Hurrah! pile on more; not too
much. "Don't put it out!" Oh, there! strong flame--coming crackling
up through those smothering heaps of stick and haulm; it won't be
kept down; it rises in the wind; it is a red flaring banner.
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