squall burst upon us in all its fury; and
though I could still hear absolutely nothing, I know that the Babel of
sound must have been terrific, for the wind smote me as though it had
been a solid body, jamming me hard against the larboard mizzen-rigging,
while the staunch little barque bowed before it until her larboard rail
was buried in the sea and her maindeck all afloat as far up as the
coamings of the hatchways. I shouted an order to let go the topsail
halliards, and signed to the man at the wheel to put the helm hard up;
but he appeared to have already done so, for--the coat that had masked
the binnacle light having gone to leeward upon the wings of the squall--
I could see him to windward of the wheel, holding the spokes in his
grasp and bearing against it with all his strength. Catching my eye,
the fellow pointed ahead and said something--at least, I saw his lips
move--and, looking in the direction toward which he pointed, I saw the
proa that had engaged us driving away to leeward, broadside-on, with
tongues of fire clinging to her bulwarks and deck here and there, which,
even as I looked, were fanned into a devouring flame by the furious
strength of the blast that swept over her. It was evident that
Roberts's flaming jet had set her on fire.

But the barque was paying off rapidly, and had risen to an even keel by
the time that we had brought the blazing proa well on our starboard bow,
when away she flew like a frightened seabird before the gale, leaving
the unfortunate Malays to a fate that, however dreadful, they had
certainly brought upon themselves. Meanwhile, the topsail halliards
having been let go, the yards had slid down upon the caps, while the
topsails--being patent-reefing--had close-reefed themselves; so that,
running, as we were, dead before the squall, we were snug enough for the
moment; although there was a lee-shore at no very great distance, the
existence of which occasioned me considerable anxiety.

The first danger over, I again called for a lantern, which was quickly
brought; and its first rays revealed the shocking fact that it was the
body of the chief mate that lay at my feet. Stooping hastily, I turned
him over on his back to search for the wound that had laid him low; but,
to my great surprise, was unable to find one, or to discover the
slightest trace of blood. The features were perfectly placid and
composed, with just the ghost of a smile upon them, giving him the
appearance of