106 The Flame-Flower
the death-goddess, and looked upon her

face.”

But one day he opened his eyes feebly,
and _ he lived.

When he was past danger, but still weak,
a terrible hurricane came across the high
hill, and swept away the hut in the midst
of the burned camp where he lay; and he
and the women had no shelter.

The dark forests moaned in the hurricane,
and the tall trees rocked and swayed.

“Let us go into the thick of the forest
for shelter,’ said Flamma, “for the wind
will be less there.”

So they helped Griffith to walk down the
hill, and came slowly into the forest; and
while they rested, Flamma being a little
apart from them, the flame-flower sprang
up at her feet, and a voice seemed to say
to her, “Place me between Griffith and
thee, and he will turn toward thee.”

But she shook her head sadly, and would
not take it up, although it spread its tendrils
about her foot, as if persuading her.

Then she thought, “It is the hama-