The fire kindled by Thor some days ago was now running wild in the Lappland forest, especially since it has been so dry.10 In many places – 9 or 10 – we saw how the forest fire had travelled many miles. I traversed an area where it had burnt for 5 miles and I observed how Flora bore black raiment in place of her green and luxuriant garb. It seemed to me crueller than the white of winter for, though the latter destroys the stem, it leaves the root unharmed – which the fire does not. We walked where the fire had almost died out except in the ant-hills and dry tree-trunks. After we had walked 3/4 of a mile, a slight breeze rose and all at once there was a cracking and crashing in the forest as though from the troops of some great army when the enemy opens fire. We did not know which way to turn: because of the smoke we could not stay where we were, but nor did we dare go back. We thought that by going on we should soon come to the end of it, but there we were mistaken. We leaped around trees that we could see were about to fall in our path. A couple of times they fell in an instant and we came to a startled stop and placed ourselves in the hands of the Being of Beings. On one occasion a large tree crashed down between myself and my companion who was walking no more than 2 yards behind me, hut by the providence of Almighty God both of us escaped unharmed. How happy we were when, free as birds, we were released from this terror of Cain!