(2) Like a mill stream. (Rushing, roaring, fast and furious.)
(3) Licking its chops. (First, a dog runs out his tongue and licks his lips and the outside of his face [cheeks—chops] when he sees food brought to him. A red flame twists and waves around like the tongue of a dog. We speak of “tongues of flame” and “hungry flames devouring.” Second, long streams of flame waved around and curled about the wood as they burned it. Third, how much more vivid is the picture we see of the beautiful fire. The words “rustling” and “roaring” help to strengthen the figure. This is a fine comparison, but as it is not directly expressed by the use of the words “like” or “as” we call it a metaphor.)
(4) Quicksilver-like streams. (Bright, shining, smoothly running, with metallic luster.)
(5) Like a straw in the high wind. (Rapid, uncertain, irregular motion.)
(6) A wreath of ragged cloud. (Notice the metaphor in wreath—also in ragged.)
(7) Howling wind. (A wolf howls. The figure which raises an inanimate object to the level of animate beings, or raises an animate being personification.)
(8) Like a cork.
(9) Swept away.
(10) Breezy letters. (The words swept and breezy are somewhat metaphorical, though their frequent use in this manner makes the meaning almost literal.)
(11) Southwest Wind, Esquire. (Personification.)