The next day Fire-tamer, who had been hunting in the Swamp, returned to the Ammi, with a piece of burning wood. Having seen a tree struck by lightning, which was nearly consumed, and thinking he understood the habits of the beast, he raked in the ashes till he found this brand. Bringing it with him, he thought, as the fire curled on the end of it, like a snake, that he had caught a wood-eating animal.
“There he comes with a little one,” said Koree, as Fire-tamer approached the Ammi. Gimbo was horrified, and ran away. The rest, though prohibiting its introduction the day before, had suffered so much during the night from cold, that they were now willing to give it a trial, which Gimbo thought very inconsistent in them.
Fire-tamer laid it down, when, to the surprise of all, it did not run away. He then brought leaves to feed it, when it flamed up, or became “mad,” as they thought. None, however, would come near enough to feel its effects; when they said it was of no use as a warmer.
THE WOOD-EATING ANIMAL IN THE CAMP OF THE AMMI.
“Wait till he shakes himself,” said Fire-tamer, “and you will get a fanning from his wings that will warm you all over.”
He then fed the monster with brush, when to the surprise of all, who now approached with confidence, it ate greedily, and soon warmed them perceptibly.
“See how he cracks the bones with his teeth,” said Pounder, in admiration of its strength, as the fire crackled and the sparks flew.