140- “The river was very real; it held him comfortably and gave him the time at last, the leisure, to consider this month, this year, and a lifetime of years."
At this point in the story, the river allows Montag to finally fully process his thoughts and the events that transpired thus far. Before this moment, he felt overwhelmed and rushed by everything going on around him.
Montag's paranoia and immediate assumption that the wild animal is the Hound suggests that society is largely void of any natural animals. Also, the sudden reveal that it is only a deer is the final moment in Montag's chase, signifying that he is finally free.
"144- “After all the running and rushing and sweating it out and half drowning, to come this far, work this hard, and think yourself safe and sigh with relief and come out on the land at last only to find… The Hound.”
150- “Welcome back from the dead."
145- “It was not burning. It was warming”.
In this moment, Granger mocks how emotionless and void of life society has become. His welcome toward Montag signifies the end of Montag's journey as he is 'revived.'
This scene is important as it shows how the group Montag stumbles upon is the polar opposite of the firemen, using the fire not for destruction but rather for comfort, safety, and healing.