We watched the rolling clouds of smoke with decided interest. The whole of the south side of the range seemed involved and no line of battle ever sent up more dense volumes of smoke.
"What do you suppose started it?" I asked.
"It could happen in several ways," replied Jim. "It might be by some wandering Indians or a trapper. Then again a stroke of lightning might have started it."
"They are not uncommon anyway," I remarked. "You can tell that by the thousands of dead trees that are fallen in the mountains."
"The new growth comes on quick, that's one good thing," said Jim.
We stood watching the rolling columns of smoke with fascinated interest. It seemed as if the whole south range had burst into a dozen eruptive volcanoes.
"Is that roaring sound the fire?" I asked.
"No, that must be the wind that is driving it," replied Jim.
"It won't do a thing to this valley," I said. "Just look at the thick brush that covers the mountain side."
"Yes," remarked Jim, "and those pine trees, my! won't they burn?"