into his hands now, and there by the bright light they drew
away aft, facing outward, ready for their first assailant.

But attack now seemed to be far from the intentions of the enemy; they
had delivered their assault, and with patient energy they kept on
pertinaciously bearing more and more faggots to the pile, even when the
task had become unnecessary. For the great sheets of flame curved over
the bulwarks, and the unfortunate defenders had the mortification of
seeing that the boards and planks, all carefully nailed up under the
mate's directions, were so much inflammable matter to feed the flames,
which began to roar now like a furnace, as the bowsprit, with its well
tarred ropes and stays, caught, and the figure-head and fore part of the
vessel were well alight.

"On'y one thing'd save her now, Billy," said Smith, coolly.

"What's that, mate, blowin' of her up?"

"Nay, a good header into a big wave."

He was quite right, for moment by moment the furnace-like heat
increased, and the fire could be seen burning slowly up the stays toward
the fore mast, with drops of burning tar beginning to rain down on the
deck.

"Anyone got anything down below he wants to save?" cried one of the men,
as they were gradually beaten back, and there was a movement towards the
forecastle hatch.

"Stop!" shouted Oliver. "Are you all mad? The cabin there is in a
blaze."

It was too true; the forepart of the brig was well alight now, and the
flames eating their way slowly and steadily toward the stern.

"Be ready, all of you," said Oliver, the next minute.

"What are you going to do?" asked Panton.

"Throw one of the small kegs into the fire. Then, as it goes off, we
must all drop down from the gangway, and fight our way to the south
opening in the woods. I daresay we can get some distance under the
cover of the smoke and confusion."

"Good," cried Panton. "It is our only chance. This vessel will be a
pile of ashes in an hour's time."

That was evident to all, for the heat was growing tremendous, and even
as Panton spoke the flames were running rapidly up the rigging of the
foremast, which promised soon to be in a blaze right to the truck.

The smoke, too, was blinding, but when they could get a glance over the
side, there were the blacks still silently toiling away, hurling on the
faggots of wood which were licked up in a few moments, as with a
crackling roar they added to the fierceness of the blaze.

And now, wi