The first rush of the fire was over, and now we looked forward and saw a vast array of columns--the trunks of burned trees--some blackened and charred, others glowing red.

The ground below was also glowing red, with blackened spaces here and there.
"Still the burned tract was but a strip, and there lay our hope.

The fire, by some strange means, had passed on a track not wider than a hundred yards, and this was what had to be traversed by us.

The question was, whether we could pass through that or not.

The same question came to both of us, and neither of us said a word.