It was the terrible danger foretold by the mate, and dreaded by Oliver,
coming when Mr Rimmer was away with his men, and unable to help his
companions.
For the sailor's eyes, long trained to watching through the darkness,
had told the truth, there were the blacks slowly advancing, armed with
those simple but deadly weapons, bundles of the most inflammable
materials they could cut in the forest. There they came, stealing along
in a line, crawling like insects toward the bows of the ship, with all a
savage's cunning, for they were pointed toward the west, whence the
night breeze now blew strongly, and in utter silence first one and then
another thrust his load close against the vessel and passed on into the
darkness.
For a few minutes, the besieged gazed down over their breastwork of
planking bewildered by the danger. They might have fired and shot many
of their assailants, but they knew that would not save them, for the
whole party kept persistently piling up the faggots, and though Oliver
and his friends did not know it, passing round the brig to go back
straight from the stern to the spot whence they had issued from the
forest to fetch more faggots, so that there were soon two lines, one
coming laden toward the bows, the other returning from the stern.
"Buckets," said Oliver, suddenly. "Form lines to the water tanks."
The men leaped with alacrity to the task, and in a very short time the
buckets were being filled and passed along to where Smith and Wriggs
bravely mounted on to the bowsprit and poured the water down upon the
increasing heap.
"Give it a good souse round, Billy," said Smith, "and wet all yer can."
"Ay, ay," was the reply, and _splash, splash_ went the water, as the
buckets were passed up and returned empty, producing a great deal of
whispering from below, but no missiles were sent up, and the blacks
worked on with the advantage that their supply was inexhaustible, while
that of the unfortunate defenders was failing fast.
"Water's done," cried Drew, suddenly, "only a few more buckets."
"Save them, then," said Panton, sharply.
"Yes," said Oliver, "Now, then, Panton, try one of your shells to blow
the heap of faggots away."
"Good," cried Panton, and he ran to get one of the powder-filled tins
just as a couple of fire-flies of a different kind were seen to be
gliding toward the vessel from the nearest point in the forest.
"No," said Oliver, addressing Smith, who had not spoken, but after
hurling down the last bucket of water had seized his gun once more.
"Those are not fire-flies but fire sticks."
"Yes, sir, they're a-goin' to light us up, so that we can see to shoot
some of the beggars, for up to now, it would ha' been like aiming at
shadders. Is it begin, sir?"
"No, wait till Mr Panton has thrown down the powder."
Smith drew a long breath, and just as the two bright points of light
disappeared under the faggot heap, piled now right up among the tarry
stays beneath the bowsprit, Panton came up with his lighted fuse.
"Now," he said, "down by the side or right atop?"
"Down beside it, or it will do more harm to us than to them."
"Here goes," said Panton, and steadily giving the fuse a good puff which
lit up his face, he pitched the shell gently, so that it should roll
down beyond the faggots, and they watched it as it went down and down
with the fuse hissing and sputtering as it burned.
"Now, then," cried Oliver, "down: everyone flat on the deck."
"No go," said Panton sharply. "I heard the fuse hiss: it fell right in
the water beneath."
At that moment one of the dry, freshly-thrown faggots, of those the
blacks kept on steadily piling up, began to blaze, then to crackle and
roar, and directly after a blinding, pungent smoke arose, and set dead
on the bows and over the deck, driving the defenders away.
The next minute the pile was hissing and roaring with increasing fury,
and, as the surroundings were illumined, the blacks could be seen
running now, each with his faggot, which he threw on to the heap, where
the fire grew fiercer and fiercer, and licked up the water which clung
to the lower layer, as if it had been so much oil.
"The powder, the powder!" yelled Wriggs.
"It's of no use, my man," cried Oliver, "it would only increase the
fire."
"Hadn't we better shoot some of the beggars down, sir?" said Smith.
"What would be the good?" replied Oliver. "Even if we killed a dozen or
two we should be no better off. Now, every man be ready with his gun,
in case they try to swarm on deck."
He motioned his devoted band a little back, for Panton somehow resigned
everything into his hands now, and there by the bright light they drew
away aft, facing outward, ready for their first assailant.
But attack now seemed to be far from the intentions of the enemy; they
had delivered their assault, and with patient energy they kept on
pertinaciously bearing more and more faggots to the pile, even when the
task had become unnecessary. For the great sheets of flame curved over
the bulwarks, and the unfortunate defenders had the mortification of
seeing that the boards and planks, all carefully nailed up under the
mate's directions, were so much inflammable matter to feed the flames,
which began to roar now like a furnace, as the bowsprit, with its well
tarred ropes and stays, caught, and the figure-head and fore part of the
vessel were well alight.
"On'y one thing'd save her now, Billy," said Smith, coolly.
"What's that, mate, blowin' of her up?"
"Nay, a good header into a big wave."
He was quite right, for moment by moment the furnace-like heat
increased, and the fire could be seen burning slowly up the stays toward
the fore mast, with drops of burning tar beginning to rain down on the
deck.
"Anyone got anything down below he wants to save?" cried one of the men,
as they were gradually beaten back, and there was a movement towards the
forecastle hatch.
"Stop!" shouted Oliver. "Are you all mad? The cabin there is in a
blaze."
It was too true; the forepart of the brig was well alight now, and the
flames eating their way slowly and steadily toward the stern.
"Be ready, all of you," said Oliver, the next minute.
"What are you going to do?" asked Panton.
"Throw one of the small kegs into the fire. Then, as it goes off, we
must all drop down from the gangway, and fight our way to the south
opening in the woods. I daresay we can get some distance under the
cover of the smoke and confusion."
"Good," cried Panton. "It is our only chance. This vessel will be a
pile of ashes in an hour's time."
That was evident to all, for the heat was growing tremendous, and even
as Panton spoke the flames were running rapidly up the rigging of the
foremast, which promised soon to be in a blaze right to the truck.
The smoke, too, was blinding, but when they could get a glance over the
side, there were the blacks still silently toiling away, hurling on the
faggots of wood which were licked up in a few moments, as with a
crackling roar they added to the fierceness of the blaze.
And now, without a word, the little keg of powder was got up from the
stores where it had been carefully stowed along with the cases of
cartridges and the captain's tiny armoury.
Panton went with Smith to bring it up, the latter carrying it and
placing it upon the deck while the sparks and flakes of fire flew
overhead in a continuous stream, some of them lodging upon the furled
sails, forming specks of fire which soon began to glow, telling that
before many minutes had elapsed the main mast would become a pyramid of
flame.
"I don't know how it's to be done now," said Panton. "No one could go
near enough to the fire to fling it in."
"I'll scheme that, sir," said Smith, "if you'll let me."
"No," said Oliver, "I will not let any man run risks. Stop: I know," he
cried.
"How?" asked Panton.
"Stand ready there, right aft," said Oliver. "Get plenty of ropes over
the stern rail, and we must escape there when the powder explodes."
"But how will you manage with the keg?"
"I'll show you," said Oliver, and while ropes were made fast to the
belaying-pins and stays, and cast over the stern in a dozen places, he
took Smith and Wriggs with him bearing one of the longest planks that
could be torn down above the bulwarks. The end of this was rested upon
the cover of the deck-house, seven feet above the deck, the other thrust
forward to where the flames were eating their way along, and showing
that below, the forecastle and hold were rapidly becoming a furnace of
fire.
"Now give me the keg," said Oliver, and Smith handed it up to where he
climbed on the deck-house, and it was placed there on end, the young
man's figure showing up in the brilliant glow of light, and offering an
easy mark to any savage who liked to draw a bow.
But no arrow came flying, and Oliver, whose plan was now grasped, sent
his companions aft to the ropes, to stand ready to save themselves when
the critical moment came. Every man was well armed, and his pockets and
wallet crammed with cartridges, and the orders were as soon as they had
dropped from the stern to follow Panton as he led them towards the
opening in the wood, some hundreds of yards from the spot whence the
line of blacks still brought their faggots.
"For goodness' sake be careful," cried Panton, turning to where Oliver
stood. "You'll act at once, will you not? the heat here is stifling."
"Directly you get back to your place. Then I shall join you, and Drew
and I will form the rear guard. Now, then, off with you, and God help
us."
Panton reached up to wring his hand, and then, with the mainmast
overhead already beginning to burn, he ran aft.
There was no time to spare, for the fire was creeping astern with
wonderful rapidity, and, after a glance downward at the deck, Oliver
lifted the keg and held it carefully balanced upon the top of the
sloping plank, whose lower end was now just beginning to burn. For the
space of quite a minute he held it with a fire in front scorching his
brow, and the sparks rushing overhead on what was now a fierce wind.
Then, when he had it perfectly balanced to his satisfaction, he let go
with both hands, and the keg remained stationary for an instant. Then
it began to roll down the plank faster and faster, and ended by
literally bounding off the burning deck as it reached the bottom of the
plank and plunging right into the fiery furnace that had been the
forecastle.
Oliver stayed till he saw the keg disappear, and then swung himself down
and ran to where his friends were waiting.
"Over!" cried Panton, and the men dropped from the stern, just as there
was a tremendous roar and a rush of flame; sparks and burning pieces of
timber rose from the forepart of the ship, followed by the burning
foremast, which fortunately fell over toward the bows, sending the
blacks flying.
"All here?" said Panton, in a low voice, but no one spoke, and for a few
minutes the darkness seemed intense, as huge clouds of smoke rolled up
from where the fire had blazed so fiercely. "Then off!" but before they
were far on their way, the flames burst forth again with fury, lighting
up the open flat across which they retreated, and a yell arose.
"Now, steady," cried Panton. "Double. When I cry halt, we'll turn and
give them a volley. Then another run, loading as we go. You there,
Lane?"
"All right."
They ran till the blacks began to press them, halted, checked the enemy
with a volley, ran on loading, and turned again, the evolution being so
successful that at last they reached the opening in the forest without
losing a man. Here they gave the enemy another volley, reloaded, and
now in single file, led by Panton, entered the dense shades.
"Where to?" said Oliver to Drew.
"Safety, I hope," was the reply.
"Safety. We have not a scrap of food, only ammunition. Yes, we have,"
he cried more cheerily, "stout hearts and plenty of faith. We can
easily keep the enemy at bay, too, along here."