The flame licked at them tentatively, recoiled, rose again and caught hold.

The fire was well started.
With gusts of wind fanning it roughly, the flame rose fast.

Harrigan made other journeys to the rotten stump and wrenched away great chunks of bark and wood.

He came back and piled them on the fire.

It towered high, the upper tongues twisting among the branches of the tree.