y out my proposal with
greater ease. What was my horror on reaching the deck, to find that the
blacks, on quitting the falls, had neglected to secure them, and that
the boat having fallen into the water had been washed away and capsized.
The flames, too, which were now ascending through the main-hatchway had
caught the other boat, and already her bows were burned through.

With this appalling intelligence I returned below. Escape seemed
impossible. I proposed building a raft, it was a desperate resource,
and there might not be time even to lash a few spars together. I could
not bear the thought of allowing the poor captain to perish miserably
without an attempt to save him. He divined my thoughts. "Its of no
use, Harry, I am prepared for death, and resign myself to the arms of
that merciful God whom I have so lately learned to know," he said, with
perfect calmness.

Paul, while the captain had been speaking, seized a bright axe which
hung against the bulk-head as an ornament, intending to cut away
whatever might assist in forming a raft, and had sprang on deck with it.
He now came down through the skylight hatch, "It is too late," he
exclaimed, "the flames come aft."

He spoke too truly. At that instant dense masses of smoke rushed into
the cabin, and the flames burst through the after bulk head. I was
scorched, by the heat and almost suffocated. So dense was the smoke
which filled the captain's berth, that I could no longer see him.

I felt Paul grasping my hand, "Come Harry, come, too late to save poor
captain," he said, dragging me after him. I was almost stifled, and
gasped for breath. In another moment I should have fallen, indeed I was
so overcome with the smoke that I did not know what was happening.

Happily however I kept firm hold of Paul, and suddenly I found myself
plunged headlong into the water. He had hauled me through the cabin
window.

"Now strike out Massa Harry, I see boat not far off, we get to her," he
exclaimed. I did as he directed me, but the thought of the horrid
sharks I had seen swimming about the vessel, almost paralysed my senses,
and every moment I expected to find myself seized by the cruel jaws of
one of them.

"Cheer up Harry, cheer up," shouted Paul; "there is the boat, we got
Friend in heaven who look after us; never fear, we reach her soon, cheer
up."

With such like cries he continued to animate me. He shouted thus not
only for that object, but to keep any sha