hich quadrupled
the size of the pool, and began to lick the sides of the kegs.

"The wretches! They fired the spirits before they escaped," cried
Archy, who realised to the full what had been done; and, for the sake of
our common humanity, let us say it must have been an act of vindictive
spite, aimed only at the destruction of the proof spirit, so that it
might not fall into the sailors' hands--not intended to condemn them to
a hideous death.

"Back quick to the entrance! We must hack down that door," roared
Archy.

"Ay, ay," shouted the men, who the moment before were mad with terror,
but who leaped at the command as if their safety were assured.

"No, no!" shouted the midshipman, as a fresh keg exploded; and in the
flash of flame which followed, the place glowed with a ghastly light.

"Yes, sir, yes!" shouted the men.

"I tell you no," cried Archy; "we should be burned or suffocated long
before we could get that open."

And, as in imagination he saw the men fighting and striving with one
another to get to the trap-door, which remained obstinately closed, he
clapped his hand on Mr Gurr's shoulder.

"I know another way," he cried. "Follow me."

"Hurrah!" yelled the men, and the lad had taken a dozen steps toward the
pool of fire, when a wild shout came from near the entrance.

"All! Who's that?" cried Archy, as he mentally saw a wounded man being
left behind.

"Don't leave a poor fellow to be burnt to death, Mr Raystoke," cried a
familiar voice.

"Ram!" cried Archy, running back to where the boy lay bound behind a
pile of stones, forgotten for the time, and unheeded by his companions.

"Yes, it's me," said the boy excitedly.

"Quick! Get up. Can you walk?" said Archy, cutting him free.

"Yes," cried the lad.

"Then come on!"

"For the top passage," whispered Ram. "That's the only way now."

"Yes. Follow me."

The midshipman had hardly given the command when there was another
explosion, a fresh flash of fire, which nearly reached them, and he saw
beyond the dancing tongues of flame the black opening he sought.

But this fresh explosion--one of which he knew scores must now rapidly
follow--checked him for the moment, and he saw that Ram had disappeared.

"It's our only chance, my lads," cried Archy. "Are you all ready?"

"Ay, ay."

"Hold your breath, then, as you get to the fire, and follow me."

"Through that blaze, my lad?" whispered the master.

"Yes. Don't stop to talk. Now,