Part 21 (2/2)
”The men are all mad,” said one of the Zulus to Hans ”They put fire to the shi+p to free themselves, and now they will not put water to the fire”
”Are the whiteto the sailors who had been attacked in the hold
”Yes, and they would be cold by noere they not kept warm by the fire It is all fire where ere”
The escape of the Zulus had either not been noticed by the negroes, or they supposed it was an act of desperation on the part of these roes still continuing their frantic proceedings The slaver was evidently burning inside more than out
The flames every now and then shot up, whilst at two places in her hull they had forced a way out Every now and then there was a hissing sound, as though water had fallen on a red-hot surface, and steaain arose, and after a ti occurred
”I believe,” said the lieutenant, ”the flah her so her; that is what causes the stea down”
As he thus called attention to the slaver, all eyes were turned to her
The flames, which had previously risen half-way up her masts, suddenly ceased, whilst a sheet of white stearadually descended; and the boat's crew had but just tiether,” and to move the two boats a safer distance from the shi+p, when the beautifully-o of deether beneath the sradually till within a few inches of the water's edge, she yet raised a large wave by her subence, which lifted the boats, and caused them to dance for solare of the burning shi+p; and so aas the sight of this crowd of hus, hurried into a next existence whilst their spirits were stirred with feelings of murder and rapine, that a dead silence of near aawe-struck at the catastrophe
The voice of the lieutenant first broke the silence, and it see speak
”I will light a lantern, that we ether,” said the lieutenant, ”and to show any poor struggling wretch, who one to the bottom, that there is help at hand Keep near us with your boat, Jones, and we'll pull off in ten minutes”
”Ay, ay, sir,” was the reply ”There won't be any co shi+p takes down her creith her”
Allowing about fifteenwhich time the lieutenant pulled over the spot beneath which the slaver had sunk, he consulted a co the rudder, directed the e the pull towards Siainst us,” said the officer, ”and the sea re before to-ive way, men, and let's make the most of smooth water”
CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE
OFF IN THE BOATS--THE STORM--A FAIR WIND--A COUNCIL--THEY STEER FOR ISLANDS--LAND
It was soon found that a lantern was not necessary to enable the second boat to follow that in which were the lieutenant and Hans The singular and beautiful phosphorescent light caused by the dipping of the oars and the passage of the boat through the water was so brilliant, that even the faces of the creere visible every now and then to each other, whilst a long star-spangled wake trailed behind the boats, and showed long after, where they had passed To the sailors accusto new in this sight, though they fully appreciated the advantages of it as aable to follow the leading boat To Hans and the Zulus it was a subject of wonder and admiration The latter in so shi+p, and seemed to consider that the latter had been the cause of the apparent fire in the water The attention of the crews of both boats was, however, soon drawn to the brilliancy of the ocean by a shoal of porpoises, which, rushi+ng along near the surface of the water, occasionally rolled half over as they took breath, and again pursued their pathless course
”We shall have a wind against us before long, I fear,” said the lieutenant, ”for those porpoises usually go up towards where the ill blow from”
”Can they feel the hen in the water, and before it blows?” said Hans
”I don't knohat they feel,” replied the lieutenant; ”I only know that when they swim in calm weather in any direction, the wind usually comes from that direction in a few hours Give way, men; we'll near the coast as much as possible before a wind coest about ten miles off land”
”What makes this current run down the coast?” inquired Hans ”Water won't run up hill, at least on shore Is it lower at the Cape than up by Natal?”
”Well I don't knohy it is exactly,” said the lieutenant; ”but it has so as I knohere the current runs, I am satisfied; I don't trouble ht in our teeth It must not blow too hard, or we shall have so our course”
The sea, which had previously been as calht breeze that was blowing The wind and current being opposed to each other caused the waves to break more than they otherould have done, and seen froerously large As the breeze gradually increased, it was found too dangerous to force the boat against the seas, and thus she was obliged to change her direction and go with theiven for the men to nail up soether, so as to keep out as ht otherwise come in as the seas broke over or near the boats Men were also told off for baling, and thus every precaution was taken to prevent the boats fro swamped
If the breeze did not freshen, there see afloat; but as a constant ould for a time cause the seas to increase, the sailors becaan to strain their eyes in all directions for the chance of catching sight of a shi+p or land The course in which they as not far out of that of hoht be bound from India to the Cape, and thus there was a fair prospect of being picked up Still the night was so dark that no vessel without lights could be seen, unless within a stone's throw Thus daylight was anxiously looked for