Fire in the Woods

James De Mille

• Publisher: White Press
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9781473330436
• eBook ISBN: 9781473340473
• Topic: Literature
• Subtopic: Science Fiction
• Index: Literature

This vintage book contains James De Mille's 1871 novella, "Fire in the Woods". Originally published as part of the "Brethren of the White Cross" series, it follows the adventures of a group of boys at a Canadian boarding school. A charming and humourous tale, "Fire in the Woods" would make for ideal bedtime reading and is not to be missed by fans and collectors of De Mille's work. Contents include: "On a Visit", "A Fascinating and a Temptation", "Secret Plans", "An Exciting Letter", "Where's Old Solomon?", "Arrival of an Opportunity", "The Opportunity Seized", "A Hazardous Adventure", "The Island in the Falls", "The Island in the Fall", et cetera. James de Mille (1833 - 1880) was a well known writer, specialising in popular fiction during the late 1860s and early 1870s. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with a specially commissioned new introduction.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Biography of James De Mille
• Contents
• I. On a Visit.—A Fascination and a Temptation.—Secret Plans.—An exciting Letter.—Where’s old Solomon?—Arrival of an Opportunity.—The Opportunity seized.—A hazardous Adventure.—The Island in the Falls.
• II. The Island in the Falls.—A Discovery of a startling Kind.—The sullen Roar.—A mad Risk.—The Struggle for Life.—On the Verge of Ruin.—A last Effort.—Over the Falls.—Ingulfed and drawn down by the Vortex.—Where is Pat?
• III. Bart off on an Expedition.—The Search after Solomon.—The aged Toiler.—The Flaming Fury.—The brandished Broomstick.—Collapse of Solomon.—Extinction of the Flaming Fury.—Solomon vanishes.—Terrible Tidings.—An anxious Search.—Despair.
• IV. At the Mercy of the Tide.—Ears deafened.—Eyes blinded. A fresh Struggle for Life.—The Roar of the Steam Whistle.—Where are we?—Pat explores.—A desolate Abode.—The falling Tides.—Without Food and Shelter.
• V. Flight of Solomon.—In Hiding.—Solomon is himself again.—Up the River.—Through the Country.—A long Drive.—An Indian Village.—An Indian Guide.—Preparing for the Expedition.
• VI. A long Drive, and a long Walk.—The wild Woods.—An Encampment.—The blazing Fire.—Lo! the poor Indian.—The Wolf and the Watch-dog.—The Spring of the Wild Beast.—Solomon to the Rescue.—A Fight and a Flight.
• VII. Passing the Night.—On Guard.—The watchful Sentinel.—Plans.—Through the Woods.—The winding River.—Fishing.—The overcast Sky.—Arrival of Pat with startling Tidings.—A useless Search.
• VIII. The Loss of Phil.—Deep Gloom and heavy Grief.—A Night of Terror.—The torrid Atmosphere.—The Smell of Smoke.—The Darkness that might be felt.—Morning brings Relief.—The Search.—The Rock and the Precipice by the River-side.—The Track of Phil.—Following the Trail.—The Trail lost.—Persevering Search.—The End of the Day.
• IX. Lost.—Deliberations.—Trying to regain the Course.—The Smoke of the Burning.—The stagnant Air.—Onward.—An Opening in the Forest.—Hope and Enthusiasm.—A Rush forward.
• X. The Opening.—The Sea, the Sea, the open Sea.—The Priest.—The Promise of Help.—Pat takes a Walk, and passes a mysterious Building.—He takes a Swim.—Return of Pat.—A terrific Discovery.—Pat in a Panic.—The Scene of Horror.—Smoke and Flame.—The Fire-glow by Night.
• XI. Where, O, where is Phil?—The Wanderer in the Woods.—Struggles with Difficulties that always increase.—Approach of Night.—Gloom.—Despair.—Climbing a Tree.—No Hope.—Rallying from the Assault.—A Midnight Meal.—Overworn Nature seeks Repose.
• XII. The Wanderer on his winding Way.—The Bewilderment of the Forest.—Swamps and Bogs.—The friendly Brook.—Following the Flow of the running Water.—A pleasant Course.—An encouraging Discovery.—Astray once more.—He sinks to Rest.—The last Sandwich.
• XIII. Clouds and Vapors.—The exhaustive Heat.—Thirst.—Muddy Water.—The Pangs of Hunger.—How to fish.—The River.—The placid Lake.—A Plunge into the Water.—The Midday Meal.—The Pine Woods.—The rocky Cavern.—Preparing a Nights Rest.—The Evening Repast.—Night once more.
• XIV. Bart.—An anxious Night.—Suspicions.—Reappearance of Pat.—The Woes of Pat.—A hideous Thought.—The Leper.—Off to the Woods.—Indian File.—The Rear Guard.—Defection of Pat.—He makes a Circuit.—“Hyar! Hyar! You dar? Whar Mas’r Bart?”
• XV. Solomon in a Rage.—Flight of Pat.—The Explorers penetrate the Forest.—The missing Companions.—New Fears and Anxieties.—A baffled Search.—Onward.—The Recesses of the Forest.—An open Space.—Halt!
• XVI. The wide open Space.—The terrific Scene.—Arrested and driven back.—New Purposes.—The Story of the Great Fire of Miramichi, and the Ruin wrought in one tremendous Night.
• 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.
• XVIII. The Conflagration.—A dread Alternative.—Forward or Backward.—A bold Decision.—The Hood.—A terrible Venture.—The red Place of Flame.—The Place of the fiery Glow.—The toppling Tree.—A Struggle for Life.—The fiery Atmosphere—The last supreme Moment.
• XIX. The black Place of Desolation.—Blue Sky.—Open Heavens.—The Glory of the Sunshine.—Green Hills.—The open Sea once more.—Along the Road.—A strange, a very strange Encounter.—The Wandering Leper.—Naaman the Syrian.
• XX. Fish for Breakfast.—The Cottage and the Schooner.—A familiar Sight.—The old Boat.—Sinking in deep Waters.—An exciting and amazing Meeting.—The Flag.—Bart on the Road.—A strange Discovery.—A fresh Surprise.
• XXI. Where is Solomon?—The Search.—The aged Wanderer.—Recognition.—Boating.—Fishing.—Cooking.—Swimming.—The Preparations for the Banquet.—The savory Smell.—Solomon dances a Breakdown and makes a Speech.
• XXII. Away from Tracadie.—The Gulf of St. Lawrence.—The Bay de Chaleur.—The innumerable Fishing Boats.—A long Harbor.—Shippegan.—The Acadians.—The Memories of Grand Pré.
• XXIII. The Story of an Acadian Exile.—The Country in Flames.—A dread Discovery.—Pursuit.—Flight over the Water.—The Bloodhound Instinct.—Red Sea Waves.
• XXIV. The American Indian in a new Light.—The false Guide.—Solomon prepares for Vengeance.—The Indian Chief.—Full Explanations.