R MAKES HIM
REGARDLESS OF THE SUFFERING WE ARE ENDURING--THE SCHOONER PICKS US UP.--
PAUL SUSPECTS HER CHARACTER.--BEFORE LONG WE DISCOVER THAT SHE IS A
SLAVER, AND SHE RUNS UP A RIVER TO RECEIVE HER CARGO ON BOARD.

Scarcely had we caught sight of the stranger than the wind entirely fell
and she lay totally becalmed. The smooth sea enabled us to free the
boat completely, and now we had nothing to do but to sit down and watch
the burning brigantine.

First one of the tall masts, completely encircled by the flames, fell
hissing into the water. The other, after standing awhile in solitary
grandeur, formed a fiery pinnacle to the flaming hull below.

At length it followed its companion, and then the fire ran riot fore and
aft. Sometimes wearied by the sight, I put my hands before my eyes to
shut it out, but then I could not help thinking of the sad fate of the
poor captain, whose body lay on its funeral pile on board.

"Ah, he happy now," whispered Paul. He had also been thinking of him.
"He say he love Jesus; he trust to Jesus, no fear for him."

Paul's words brought consolation to my heart. Our own condition might
well have made me depressed, yet I felt supported by the strong faith of
my companion in a way I formerly should not have thought possible.

We had no food, and not a drop of fresh water to quench our burning
thirst.

Some way off we could see pieces of burnt spars floating about. I
thought of trying to paddle the boat up to them with our hands, hoping
to find some which might serve as oars, and enable us to reach the
schooner in the distance. I quickly, however, gave up the attempt, for
scarcely had I put my hand into the water than I saw a huge pair of jaws
darting towards it, and I had just time to pull it out before they made
a snap close to me, which would, in a moment, have bitten it off.

Night soon came down upon us as we thus sat utterly helpless in our
boat, while the sea around was lighted up with the flames of the burning
vessel. Loaded as she was almost entirely with combustible materials,
they burned with unusual fierceness. Her whole interior, as the sides
were burned away, appeared one glowing mass, surrounded by a rim of
flames which fed upon her stout timbers and planking. Suddenly there
came a loud hissing noise across the water, then a dense vapour ascended
from her midst, and in an instant after all was darkness. The remains
of the "Chieftain" had sunk into the depths of