hey had taken to flight, and three
boats, which had been concealed behind the point, were now seen shoving
off for the schooner. They had got more than half way towards her when
the flames burst out through all the hatchways; still they pulled on,
hoping to extinguish them. The people in the leading boat were on the
point of jumping on board, when the flames catching the gunpowder, up
she went, her masts and spars shooting towards the sky, with fragments
of her decks, while her sides split in all directions. Whether any of
the Brazilians were injured could not be discovered; two of their boats
pulled away in hot haste, the third following far more slowly. It was
the general opinion that the people in her must have suffered severely,
as they were close to the side of the vessel when she blew up.

Jack fearing that his vessel might be attacked, made the best of his way
on board. On the arrival of the boats alongside, Bevan reported that he
had not been molested, but that he had seen a considerable number of
boats pulling along the shore, towards a spot further down, where people
were collected in crowds. Though Jack felt perfectly confident that
even should they venture to attack him he should beat them off, being
anxious to avoid bloodshed, he resolved to get under weigh as soon as
possible. The breeze, however, still blowing up the harbour, he had to
wait till it died away, and the land breeze reassumed its power.

It was an anxious time, for without a pilot he dare not attempt to heat
out of the harbour.

"At all events, if they do show their noses, we can give them a taste of
Long Tom, sir," said Needham; "it's my opinion they will not come nearer
if they hear him bark."

The brig lay with her sails loose and her cable hove short: still not a
breath of air stirred the glass-like surface of the harbour.

Jack did not wish to risk the loss of his vessel by attempting to cross
the bar without a leading wind, besides which from the example the
Brazilians had given of their disposition they might take the
opportunity of attacking her while passing along the narrow channel he
would have to traverse.

He hoped to get out before nightfall. At length the pennant which long
had hung up and down the mast, began to move. Again it dropped, but at
length out it blew steadily, while here and there gentle ripples
appeared on the surface of the water.

"Hands, up anchor and make sail," shouted Jack.

The boats quickl