flung the axe into the shrouds; and, gliding down a rope upon
the floating timbers, called upon me to follow him. It was at this
moment I heard the cry from the main-deck that the great raft was ready;
and, looking back, I perceived that the men were hurrying over the side
and descending upon it. If I remained but a moment longer I should be
the last upon the burning wreck.

No!--not the last--far from it. There were nearly five hundred more--
five hundred human beings on board the _Pandora_! and though they were
men with black skins, they had lives to lose--lives as precious to them
as ours were to us.

A terrible spectacle was comprehended in that backward glance--a sight,
the remembrance of which never fails to send a chill through my veins,
and a shuddering through my frame.

CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR.

During all this time what was the behaviour of the unfortunate blacks?
Where were they? what were they doing? What was being done for them?
Were any steps being taken for their safety?

The two last of these questions may be answered by saying, that up to
that moment, with the exception of myself, perhaps, not one on board had
given a thought either to them or their fate! With regard to their
whereabouts, they were still between decks, and under grated hatches;
and as to what they were doing, it would have been hard to tell that--
hard even to guess it. One thing they were doing; they were crying
frantically, and screaming as if they had all gone mad--but this was no
new thing, it had been their behaviour throughout that whole day.

In their hurrying to and fro, while launching the long-boat, and
afterwards while gathering materials for the raft, the men passed
frequently near them; and then the cries of the blacks would, for the
moment, be uttered in a louder voice, and in more earnest tones,--
sometimes of entreaty, but oftener of rage and menace.

As no notice was taken of them, and those to whom they appealed passed
carelessly on, their voices would sink again into the deep continuous
murmur of despair.

It is probable that up to this period--the moment when the raft was
ready--the only agony which they had experienced was thirst; for I
noticed, on last passing them, that their cries had not changed. It was
still _agoa_! _agoa_!--water! water! This, with the want of air and
room, the desire to get upon deck, were the impulses that had been
urging them to such furious and frantic demonstrations.

I