82 THE AFRICAN TRADER.

With this appalling intelligence I returned be-
low. Escape seemed impossible. I proposed
building a raft, it was a desperate resource, and
there might not be time even to lash a few spars
together. I could not bear the thought of allow- |
ing the poor captain to perish miserably without
an attempt to save him. He divined my thoughts,
‘Its of no use Harry, I am prepared for death, and ©
resign myself to the arms of that merciful God |
whom I have so lately learned to know,’ he said, —
with perfect calmness.

Paul, while the captain had been speaking,
seized a bright axe which hung against the bulk-
head as an ornament, intending to cut away what-
ever might assist in forming a raft, and had sprang
_on deck with it. He now came down through the
skylight hatch, ‘It is too late,’ he exclaimed, ‘the
flames come aft.’

He spoke too truly. At that instant dense
masses of smoke rushed into the cabin, and the |
flames burst through the after bulk head. I was —
scorched, by the heat and almost suffocated. So
dense was the smoke which filled the captain’s berth,
that I could no longer see him.

I felt Paul grasping my hand, ‘Come Harry,