ions. There were other men besides Brace who knew
something, or had heard something, about the stolen keg, but who, not
being certain about the matter, did not like to make known their
suspicions. There might be powder yet; and it was, therefore, with a
feeling of relief that all hands had sprung upon the raft, and got it
out of the way of such dangerous contingency. No doubt it was this
suspicion about the gunpowder that had influenced them all to exert
themselves so strenuously in the work. So far as there was any danger
from the flames, they might have continued on board a while longer--for
it would still be many minutes, before the conflagration could extend
forward and embrace the whole of the vessel.

The men had not stayed aboard a moment longer than was required for them
to complete the necessary work; and, once on the water, they were seen
to be working as anxiously as ever to push off the raft--as though they
dreaded contact with the barque from some other cause than the danger of
the fire.

This was in reality the case; for, now that the raft was fairly afloat,
those who suspected the presence of gunpowder were heard freely
declaring their suspicions; and all stood looking upon the conflagration
with eyes of expectancy--expecting every moment to hear an explosion!

It was just at that moment that Brace and I, passing round the
larboard-bow, came in sight of the crew; and, without a moment's
hesitation, my companion using the oar, and I doing what I could with a
handspike, set our little raft in motion, directing it as well as we
could towards the other--with which we supposed in a few seconds we
should be able to come up.

In this, however, we were disappointed. Just then we observed a strange
movement among the men on the raft, who, after standing for some seconds
in attitudes that betokened surprise, and with voices and gestures that
confirmed it, were seen hastily renewing their efforts to put themselves
at a still greater distance from the wreck; and not only hastily, but in
a manner that bespoke some degree of terror!

What could this mean? Surely the flames could not reach them now?
Surely they were beyond all danger from an explosion of gunpowder--even
had there been a hundred barrels instead of one? The blowing up of a
whole magazine could not have harmed them at that distance off? Surely
it was not this that was exciting them?

I first looked to Brace for explanation, but his actions, a