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, pa.s.sing 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 att.i.tudes 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.
CHAPTER FIFTY SIX.
Up to that instant I had not looked back towards the burning barque. I would rather not have done so. I dreaded to look back; moreover, I was so eagerly employed in helping to propel our floating plank that I had scarce time for looking around.
Now, however, I was constrained to raise my head and glance back upon that terrific spectacle. It explained at once why the crew of the _Pandora_ were so eager to be gone from the spot.
The fire had burned forward to the stump of the main-mast, and, fed by the large quant.i.ties of black pitchy ropes--the shrouds, stays, and ratlines--was sending up strong bursts of smoky flame. Red tongues were shooting out forward, as if to grasp the rigging of the fore-mast that still stood untouched. But the most singular, or rather the most awful, part of the scene was that presented on the foredeck and the whole forward part of the ship. Upon the windla.s.s, the bulwarks, the fore-mast shrouds, around the head, and out to the bowsprit-end, was a continuous swarm of human forms, so thickly cl.u.s.tered that scarce any part of the vessel could be seen, except the fore-mast, with its spars and rigging towering high above. Five hundred there were--perhaps not so many--as some of them, happily for themselves, had gone out of the world before that dread hour. But nearly five hundred there were, and of course they covered every part of the forward deck, and even the sides and bulwarks, from the selvage of the approaching flames to the bowsprit-end. Some had gone out even farther, and could be seen swarming like bees and balancing their bodies on the jib-boom. In fact, but for its awful character, the scene suggested the hiving of bees that had crowded every leaf and twig upon the branch of a tree.
Both males and females were there--for both had succeeded in making their way on deck--but amid that thick swarm their s.e.x could not be distinguished. Strange to say, they were no longer black! Not one of them looked black--on the contrary, they appeared red! Their faces, the skin of their naked bodies, even the woolly coverture of their crowns, showed blood-red under the glaring light of the blazing pitch; and this singular transformation added not a little to rendering the scene more terrific--for there was something supernatural in this altered complexion.
The whole scene might have been compared to the final of some grand theatrical spectacle--it had all the grandeur, the red light, and the scenic embellishment--but in two circ.u.mstances it widely differed from the fict.i.tious imitation. There was not that variety of forms and colours in the tableaux, and, moreover, the characters were not as upon the stage--in poses and att.i.tudes that betokened rest. On the contrary, all were in motion. Their arms were tossing wildly above their heads, while they themselves were leaping upward or dancing to and fro wherever they could find footing. They were shouting in tones of despair, screaming in agonised accents; while some, who had evidently gone mad, were gibbering and laughing in voices that bore a striking resemblance to that of the hyena!
The strong light enabled me to trace everything minutely--alas, too minutely! I could see the white gleaming teeth, the frothing lips, the eyes glaring in madness or terror. We were still scarce a cable"s length from them. I could note every movement as if I had been in their midst, or within ten feet of them. They all stood fronting in the direction of the raft; and for this reason I could note their gestures, and even distinguish the expression upon their features.
Among other things I saw women--I knew they were women only from their being smaller than those around--I saw women lift up little dark forms as high as they could raise them, and hold them out in the direction of the raft. They were their children, their infant piccaninnies, and this was intended as a supplication to the white runaways to come back and save them. Others stretched forth their arms and stood in att.i.tudes of entreaty; while men--the stronger and fiercer ones--shook their clenched fists in the air and hurled after us loud cries of menace.
Awe-inspiring as was the spectacle, it was neither the threats of the men nor the supplications of the women that was causing all commotion among the crew on the raft.
Part of the blaspheming and loud talk that could be heard there arose from anger that the blacks had been let out; and we could hear several voices inquiring, in harsh angry tones. "Who has done it? Who has done it?"
These questions were not asked simply thus, but with the embellishments of horrid oaths and exclamations that cannot be repeated.
It was just as my companion and I were parting from the bows, that we heard these questions asked, and so earnest was the tone of the inquirers, that I at once saw that I had placed myself in a position of danger.
It appeared that I had committed an imprudence. My humanity had hurried me to an act that could be of no service in saving the lives of those I intended to benefit, but was likely to bring destruction upon all-- myself among the rest.
I can scarce say that I repented of what I had done. I should have done the same deed again. I could have not restrained myself. I had followed the promptings of mercy. How could I have acted otherwise?
I had such reflections at the moment, or something like them. I cannot exactly describe my thoughts, for a tumult of strange emotions was pa.s.sing through my mind.
I now perceived the danger which threatened the two rafts: I perceived it on looking back toward burning the vessel: the blacks were threatening to swim after, and seek refuge upon the rafts. Large numbers of them showed that they had formed this intention. It was apparent from their movements and att.i.tudes. They were swarming over the bulwarks and down the sides. They had gathered along the beam-ends and seemed every moment on the eve of launching their bodies into the water!
CHAPTER FIFTY SEVEN.
No wonder the sailors were alarmed. Should the blacks carry out their intention, enough of them might reach the raft to sink her--enough of them, perhaps, to fling the white men into the sea and themselves take possession of that frail chance for life. Whatever might be the event, it was clear that if they came on, certain destruction must result to one or other, or most likely to all. As for my companion and myself, we appeared in a position of greater peril, even than those upon the raft, for we were between them and the threatened danger. But we had no fears from this source; we were certain that if no accident arose to our craft we could propel it faster than a man could swim--though so little faster that it would have been a tight race had we been pursued. However, having so many yards of start we had little to fear.
We kept on, intending to overtake the raft and fasten our floating planks alongside it; and this purpose, after a few minutes, we succeeded in effecting.
Brace had cautioned me as we came up to say nothing, of what I had done.
"For your life say nothing, for certainly," said he, "they will throw you into the sea and me along with you. Say not a word," whispered he, as a final caution--"not a word, even if they question you. I"ll answer them if they do."
He was called upon to do so, and dexterously did he execute his design.
"Hilloa!" hailed several as we approached--"who are ye? Ho! Brace and that precious boy Bill. Was it you that let the n.i.g.g.e.rs above board?
Was it either of you?"
These questions were put with the usual vulgar embellishments.
"No!" responded Brace, in an indignant tone and of course telling the truth as far as he was concerned--"How could we? We were down by the bows, and couldn"t see "em. I wonder how they did get loose? They must a broke through when ye knocked off the batten. I seed nothin" of "em till we were out in the water. I was under the head makin" this bit o"
raft. I was affeerd there wouldn"t be room for all--lend a hand here one o" ye, and hitch this thing on--it"ll help to keep a couple o" us afloat anyhow."
By this appeal for help my companion dexterously turned the conversation, so that no further questions were asked about who set free the blacks. Indeed, there was no opportunity to talk any more upon the matter, for at this crisis the attention of every one upon the raft had become earnestly fixed upon that dark, red cloud that cl.u.s.tered along the side of the vessel.
Strange to say the negroes had been for some minutes in this position-- with every appearance of a purpose to leap outward into the water and swim towards the raft--and yet, not one of them had sprung forth! They seemed like men determined to do a thing, but who waited for a signal from some leader. Either that, or some one to take the lead himself and set the example--just like a mob of soldiers crowded together on the field of battle--as soldiers always are at such times--prepared to charge forward and rush even upon death itself, if some bold spirit will only give the word and go forward in advance of them. So stood the crowd of blacks, threatening to plunge into the sea and yet hesitating to do so.
We wondered at their hesitation. What could they mean by holding back?
The raft appeared the only chance for their lives--though a poor respite it would be. Nevertheless, men who are about to be burned or drowned will cling to a less hope than that. Why, then, did they not jump overboard and swim after, as all expected them to have done before this?
Could they swim? or could they not? These were the questions that now pa.s.sed rapidly from mouth to mouth on board the raft, and were answered with equal rapidity, though the answers were but guesses, and did not correspond. They were both negative and affirmative. Some alleged that they could not. If this were true, then the position of affairs could be explained at once: the hesitation of the blacks to take to the water would, upon this hypothesis, be easily understood. However, there were but few who held this opinion. It was quite improbable that it could be the true one--quite improbable that in all that crowd there was not any one who could swim--for even one would have taken to the sea in hopes of finding refuge upon the raft--forlorn as the hope may have been. No, the negative supposition was not to be entertained for a moment. It is well-known that most of the natives of Africa not only swim but are most excellent swimmers. Their mode of life renders the art a necessity among them. Living on the banks of great rivers, by the sh.o.r.es of those immense lakes in which Central Africa abounds, often requiring to cross streams that are deep and rapid, and where no bridges exist, these people are compelled by their very wants to become experts swimmers.
Besides, their hot climate renders the exercise a pleasant one, and many tribes of them spend half their time in the water.
It was highly improbable that they could not swim--all, or nearly all, of them. No, this was not the cause of their hesitancy.
And what was?
This question was answered by one of the sailors--though all of us at the same moment perceived the cause.