now make out that they
were two floating furnaces with the great tongues of fire licking the
broad matting-sails: and, best news of all, there, quite plainly, were
our four boats, with the men just visible above their sides.

I reported this, and cheer after cheer rose again. After which there
was dead silence once more, so that my reports could be heard.

"Now, Mr Herrick, what now?" cried Mr Reardon.

"Two boats lying in mid-stream, sir; the others are rowing to the side."

"To pick up the men who were sent ashore, I suppose. Good."

"Junks burning very fast, sir; and they're floating across to the other
side. The wind's taking them straight, for the smoke floats that way."

"Very likely," said Mr Reardon; and there was a long pause.

"One junk has taken the ground, sir," I said, "and--"

"Yes, well, what?"

"Her masts and sails have fallen over the side."

"And our boats?"

"Lying-to, sir, doing nothing."

But that was as far as I could see, for they were doing a good deal, as
we afterwards heard.

"Other junk has floated over, sir, nearly to the same place."

"Good; burning still?"

"Oh yes, sir--very fast."

He need not have asked; for, as Barkins told me afterwards, they could
see the flames from the deck, though our boats were invisible.

"Well, what now?" cried Mr Reardon, as I saw the captain quietly pacing
to and fro on the bridge.

"Other two boats pushed off from the shore, sir."

"Ha! that's right. See anything of the Chinamen?"

"No, sir; the forest goes right away for miles. There isn't one to be
seen."

"And the boats?"

"All rowing back, sir, close under the left bank."

"Can you see them?"

"Only three of them, sir," I replied. "Now another is out of sight."

"Then, as soon as they are all invisible, you can come down," cried Mr
Reardon.

"Yes, sir; all out of sight now."

"Then come down."

"Thankye for nothing," I muttered; and then aloud, "Yes, sir;" and I
closed my glass, and wiped my wet forehead, feeling stiff and sore, as
if I had been exerting myself with all my might.

"I suppose I'm very stupid," I said to myself, as I began to descend
slowly, "but I did try my best. What a height it seems up here! If a
fellow slipped and fell, he would never have another hour up at the
mast-head."

I went on downward, with my legs feeling more and more stiff, and a
sense of heavy weariness growing upon me. My head ached too, and I felt
a pain at the back of my