vern,
his hyes has been like your little glasses. Here, Billy, tell the gents
just what you says you see."

"'Undred niggers a crawlin' along like harnts, sir, each one with a big
faggit on his back, and if they arn't a comin' to burn us out, I'm a
Dutchman."

CHAPTER FIFTY.

THE GREAT PERIL.

It was the terrible danger foretold by the mate, and dreaded by Oliver,
coming when Mr Rimmer was away with his men, and unable to help his
companions.

For the sailor's eyes, long trained to watching through the darkness,
had told the truth, there were the blacks slowly advancing, armed with
those simple but deadly weapons, bundles of the most inflammable
materials they could cut in the forest. There they came, stealing along
in a line, crawling like insects toward the bows of the ship, with all a
savage's cunning, for they were pointed toward the west, whence the
night breeze now blew strongly, and in utter silence first one and then
another thrust his load close against the vessel and passed on into the
darkness.

For a few minutes, the besieged gazed down over their breastwork of
planking bewildered by the danger. They might have fired and shot many
of their assailants, but they knew that would not save them, for the
whole party kept persistently piling up the faggots, and though Oliver
and his friends did not know it, passing round the brig to go back
straight from the stern to the spot whence they had issued from the
forest to fetch more faggots, so that there were soon two lines, one
coming laden toward the bows, the other returning from the stern.

"Buckets," said Oliver, suddenly. "Form lines to the water tanks."

The men leaped with alacrity to the task, and in a very short time the
buckets were being filled and passed along to where Smith and Wriggs
bravely mounted on to the bowsprit and poured the water down upon the
increasing heap.

"Give it a good souse round, Billy," said Smith, "and wet all yer can."

"Ay, ay," was the reply, and _splash, splash_ went the water, as the
buckets were passed up and returned empty, producing a great deal of
whispering from below, but no missiles were sent up, and the blacks
worked on with the advantage that their supply was inexhaustible, while
that of the unfortunate defenders was failing fast.

"Water's done," cried Drew, suddenly, "only a few more buckets."

"Save them, then," said Panton, sharply.

"Yes," said Oliver, "Now, then, Panton, try one of your sh