when Willy, looking towards the hill, exclaimed, "Why, surely our fire
is blazing up brighter than before."

"Our fire!" cried Harry. "I am afraid that the hut is in flames! On,
lads, we can do no more for the boat, and we may still manage to save
the hut."

The whole party rushed up the hill; but already, as they drew near the
top, they saw, to their dismay, that not only the walls, but the roof
itself had caught fire. Fanned by the wind, the flames rapidly spread
round the building which had cost them so much labour to erect; and so
fiercely did the dry grass with which it was covered burn that they
could not approach it. Not without difficulty, indeed, did they save
the shrouds of the flagstaff, towards which the wind drove the flames.

"And all our grub is inside," cried Paul Lizard. "I'll try and save
that, even though I get scorched a bit."

Paul was rushing forward. "Avast," cried Harry, seizing him by the arm.
"My gun and powder flask is within, and any moment the powder may
explode."

Scarcely had he spoken when a loud report was heard, and the shattered
flask flew out, just passing between them, and in all probability would
have struck Paul on his legs had he gone a few paces further. In a few
moments the gun itself went off, but fortunately being in an upright
position the shot with which it was loaded flew over their heads.

"The danger is over now, at all events," said Paul. "And though our
breakfast must be pretty well cooked, we must save some of that."
Saying this, he rushed up to the hut with a long stick which he had
picked up, and began raking away at the ashes. Tom and another man
joined him, and succeeded in scraping out a portion of the seal-flesh
and some roots, though, as he observed, holding them up, "somewhat
over-roasted."

"You have forgotten the axes, lads," cried the boatswain. "Try and get
them out, or we shall have a hard matter to put up another hut." After
making several efforts, the heads of the axes were raked out, though the
handles had been so burnt and charred as to be useless.

"Never mind that," observed the boatswain. "We may manage to replace
them."

The walls of the hut, from being of some thickness, continued to burn
for a long time.

"Well, lads," said Harry, "as we cannot save the huts, we must now make
up a rousing fire with the remains of the wood, and try and warm
ourselves. The rain has fortunately ceased, and we shall get dry in
time, I hope