However, as it was manifestly impossible for him to keep his head up for long he carefully crawled out upon the plank until he could rest an arm and shoulder upon the willows.
When he looked up it was to find the night strangely luminous with fires.

There was a bonfire on the extreme end of the bluff, another a hundred paces beyond.

A great flare extended over the brake in that direction.

Duane heard a roaring on the wind, and he knew his pursuers had fired the willows.

He did not believe that would help them much.
The brake was dry enough, but too green to burn readily.