. At that moment up
ascended right before them a mass of earth and stones and wood, with a
dense cloud of smoke and dust, accompanied by a terrific roar, and they
felt themselves lifted off their feet and sent heels over head, while
down upon them came showering all the more solid portions of the
above-mentioned materials about their ears, as they lay half stunned and
stifled and vainly endeavouring to rise. Another foot in advance, and
they would have been blown to destruction. Hemming had seen the old
Spaniard fire his pistol into the tub, and guessed what was coming.
Murray and Adair felt themselves very much hurt, so indeed were Hemming
and Needham; while several poor fellows were maimed or killed outright.
The two schoolfellows, after lying stupefied for a few seconds, lifted
up their heads and began to crawl out from the mass of ruins which
surrounded them.

"Where's Jack?" exclaimed Murray.

"Where's Jack?" cried Adair, getting upon his legs and helping Murray,
who was hurt more than he was.

These were the first words they uttered. He had not been out of their
thoughts, in spite of the dreadful commotion. As the smoke cleared away
they caught sight of the group of fugitives, among whom they supposed he
was, ascending the hill which rose beyond the fort. They were eager to
pursue, but when they looked round and saw so many of their companions
disabled, and Lieutenant Hemming himself on the ground, they could not
help fearing that pursuit would be hopeless. Still they were moving on,
when Hemming, recovering himself, called them back.

"It is of no use, lads," he cried. "The scoundrels have escaped us this
time. See, see, too, we have work here," As he spoke, flames burst
forth out of the barracoon, part of which had been blown up by the mine.
The seamen who could stand, wounded or not, rushed forward, led by
their officers, to help the miserable slaves. They hacked away
desperately to get them free of their manacles, trying to cut through
the solid iron or the beams to which the chains were secured. Meantime
the hot flames were raging around them, and almost prevented them from
performing their work of mercy. Still, in spite of the fire, the heat,
and the smoke, and the possibility of being again blown up, the
undaunted fellows laboured on. Numbers of the poor slaves had been
liberated, and several children had been carried off who would otherwise
have been left with their mothers to perish; but