108 The Flame-Flower

And Flamma, weeping, took the flame-
flower, and placed it in a crevice of the
bark, and so left it flickering there.

They made a roof of branches, when the
hurricane had abated a little more, among
the limbs of the fallen oak ; and there Griffith
lay until he was stronger, Evan’s remaining
men hunting food for them all.

One day, when Griffith was strong, he
and Flamma leaned against the fallen oak ;
and Griffith saw the flame-flower flicker-
ing in the crevice of the bark, and took it
up; for he knew of the flame-flower ere
this, but knew not all its powers, yet only
those of its might and fury.

Flamma watched his face as he took up
the flower, and her eyes filled with tears,

“The maiden—she whose tree fought
for us and saved our lives—is gone,” she
said.

Griffith looked sad, but said no word.

Flamma waited. “He will ask whither
she has gone, that he may follow her,” she
thought. But he did not ask.

‘She is gone hence,” said F lamma.