During my short absence, Brace had not been idle.
He had got his little raft compacted--its timbers tied together--and it
now carried us both without even dipping under water. The two spars,
the dolphin-striker, and half of the spritsail-yard were laid parallel
to each other, and transversely to these were the broad pieces, that
exhibited in large letters the name of the ill-fated barque. There were
several other pieces of timber, a handspike or two, and an oar--which
Brace had picked up as he glided towards the head--and over all was a
piece of sail-cloth, or tarpaulin. The whole formed a raft just about
large enough for two, and safe enough in calm weather, but under a gale,
or even a strong wind, such a structure would have been overwhelmed at
once.
But my companion had no intention of going to sea with such a craft.
His idea had been that he might get it ready before the great raft could
be finished, and the sooner escape from the dangerous proximity of the
powder. Even if it had taken him quite as long to prepare it, there was
still a greater chance of safety by our being so far forward upon the
vessel. If the powder had exploded there would have been a chance of
our not being blown to atoms. The after-part of the vessel might be
shivered in pieces, and, of course, the rest would soon sink; but still,
by keeping out by the head, there were many chances in our favour. It
was from these considerations that the sailor had hurried away from
amidships, and set to making his raft at the bows. It was only intended
as a temporary retreat--to enable us at the earliest moment to get
beyond the circle of danger; and, should the men succeed in completing
the larger structure, ours could afterward be brought alongside and
joined on to it.
The large raft was completed as soon as our little one, and all hands
had gone down upon it. As I returned on deck to strike up the hatch, I
saw not a soul of the _Pandora's_ crew. They had all gone out of the
vessel, and betaken themselves to the raft. From the deck I could not
see either them or the raft--as the latter was still close in under the
beam-ends of the barque.
As soon as I had got fairly down, my companion pushed off, and the next
moment the great raft came under our view. Both it, and those who were
on it, were seen as distinctly as though it had been daylight--for the
burning vessel was no longer a combination of flame and smoke. Her
whole quarter-deck, from the taffrail to the main-hatch, was enveloped
in a bright flame that illumined the surface of the sea to the distance
of miles. Under this light, we perceived the raft and the men standing
or crouching upon it.
They had pushed off some ten or twelve yards from the side of the
vessel, in order to be clear of the flames. There was another reason
that induced them to get some distance away, and that was the fear that
there might be powder aboard. Although no positive alarm had been given
to that effect, there existed a doubt about the thing, and they were not
without apprehensions. There were other men besides Brace who knew
something, or had heard something, about the stolen keg, but who, not
being certain about the matter, did not like to make known their
suspicions. There might be powder yet; and it was, therefore, with a
feeling of relief that all hands had sprung upon the raft, and got it
out of the way of such dangerous contingency. No doubt it was this
suspicion about the gunpowder that had influenced them all to exert
themselves so strenuously in the work. So far as there was any danger
from the flames, they might have continued on board a while longer--for
it would still be many minutes, before the conflagration could extend
forward and embrace the whole of the vessel.
The men had not stayed aboard a moment longer than was required for them
to complete the necessary work; and, once on the water, they were seen
to be working as anxiously as ever to push off the raft--as though they
dreaded contact with the barque from some other cause than the danger of
the fire.
This was in reality the case; for, now that the raft was fairly afloat,
those who suspected the presence of gunpowder were heard freely
declaring their suspicions; and all stood looking upon the conflagration
with eyes of expectancy--expecting every moment to hear an explosion!
It was just at that moment that Brace and I, passing round the
larboard-bow, came in sight of the crew; and, without a moment's
hesitation, my companion using the oar, and I doing what I could with a
handspike, set our little raft in motion, directing it as well as we
could towards the other--with which we supposed in a few seconds we
should be able to come up.
In this, however, we were disappointed. Just then we observed a strange
movement among the men on the raft, who, after standing for some seconds
in attitudes that betokened surprise, and with voices and gestures that
confirmed it, were seen hastily renewing their efforts to put themselves
at a still greater distance from the wreck; and not only hastily, but in
a manner that bespoke some degree of terror!
What could this mean? Surely the flames could not reach them now?
Surely they were beyond all danger from an explosion of gunpowder--even
had there been a hundred barrels instead of one? The blowing up of a
whole magazine could not have harmed them at that distance off? Surely
it was not this that was exciting them?
I first looked to Brace for explanation, but his actions, at the moment,
were as mysterious as any. He was on the forward part of our little
craft, kneeling upon the planks and using his oar in the manner of a
paddle. I saw that he was endeavouring to direct our course towards the
raft; so as I with the handspike; but my companion, instead of working
leisurely and deliberately--as he had hitherto been doing--was now
rowing with all the haste and strength he could put into his arms--as if
he was in dread that the raft would get away from us, and was doing his
utmost to overtake her!
He had said nothing as yet; but I could see his features distinctly
under the brilliant light, and the expression upon them, as well as the
earnest endeavours he was making to increase our speed, convinced me
that he, too was under some feeling of terror.
Was it the fear of being left behind by those on the raft? No; it could
not be that; for, though neither was going faster than a cat could swim
we were evidently making better speed than they; and it was plain we
were getting nearer them at every stroke of the paddle. The great raft,
indeed, lay like what it was--a raft of logs; and, although the men had
oars, it was only with great difficulty it could be pushed along, and
moved slowly and heavily through the water. Why should Brace be at all
uneasy about our overtaking it?
But it was not that that was urging him to such haste. The conjecture
only held possession of my thoughts for an instant. In the next instant
I perceived the cause of terror. I saw what alarmed both my companion
and the crew upon the raft.