.

"Our doom is fixed," said Sam in a tone of bitter despair.

Slagg and his friend were so much overwhelmed that they could not speak.

On came the vessel--under oars--straight for the creek where the raft
lay. There could be no doubt now that they had been seen.

While they gazed in blank dismay, utterly unable to decide on any course
of action, an event occurred which totally altered the aspect of
affairs. Suddenly, as if by magic, the pirate-ship was converted into a
great black-and-white cloud, from out of which there shot an
indescribable mass of broken spars and wreckage which fell in all
directions in a heavy shower into the sea. Two seconds later and there
came a roar as if a crash of the loudest thunder had rent the sky. The
powder-magazine had been fired, and the pirate-ship had been blown
literally to atoms!

When the last of the terrible shower had fallen, nothing whatever of the
vessel was to be seen save the floating morsels of the wreck. It was,
we might say, a tremendous instance of almost absolute annihilation.

Recovering from the shock of horror and surprise, Sam Shipton ran
swiftly down to the spot where the raft lay, followed by his companions.

"There may be some left alive!" he cried. "Quick--shove her off.
Yonder's a pole, Robin, fetch it."

Another minute and they were afloat. Pushing with the pole, sculling
with the rude oar, and paddling with a plank torn off, they made for the
scene of the explosion.

"I see something moving," said Stumps, who, having no implement to work
with, stood up in front and directed their course.

Soon they were in the midst of the _debris_. It was an awful sight, for
there, mingled with riven spars and planks and cabin furniture, and
entangled in ravelled cordage, lay the torn lifeless remains of the
pirates. Sharks were already swimming about in anticipation of a feast.

"Did you not see symptoms of life somewhere?" asked Sam, as he stood
beside Stumps, and looked earnestly round.

"Yes, I did, but I don't now--O yes! there it is again. Give way,
Slagg, give way. There!"

The raft was soon alongside of the moving object. It was the body of
the gallant sailor who had fought so well that day. His limbs were
still fast bound, excepting one arm, with which now and then he struck
out feebly, as if trying to swim. Lying on his back his mouth and nose
were above water.

"Gently, gently, boys," said Robin, as they lifted the head out of the