Furiously goading his horse, he dashed down
the hillside at a terrific pace.
All at once, as he kept his eye on the flying figure of the demon, he was
startled by a sudden burst of flame in the valley. A wide circle of light
was rapidly described, a rumbling sound was heard like that preceding
an earth-quake, and a tremendous explosion followed, hurling trees and
fragments of rock into the air.
Astounded at the extraordinary occurrence, and not knowing what
might ensue, the pursuers reined in their steeds. But the terror of the
scene was not yet over. The whole of the brushwood had caught fire,
and blazed up with the fury and swiftness of lighted flax. The flames
caught the parched branches of the trees, and in a few seconds the
whole grove was on fire.
The sight was awfully grand, for the wind, which was blowing strongly,
swept the flames forward, so that they devoured all before them.
When the first flash was seen the demon had checked his steed and
backed him, so that he had escaped without injury, and he stood at the
edge of the flaming circle watching the progress of the devastating
element; but at last, finding that his pursuers had taken heart and were
approaching him, he bestirred himself, and rode round the blazing zone.
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