had better not," observed Van Graoul, when he saw what I was about
to do. "They may take it ill, and revenge themselves." I thought he
was joking, as he was, in part, and so, loading my rifle, I fired at a
huge fellow, whose back appeared at a little distance off. Whether the
ball entered his skin or glanced off, I could not tell; for he sunk
immediately, and I was preparing for another shot, when he, or one of
his fellows, rose on the opposite side. There he remained, spouting for
a minute or so, and then down he dived, and directly afterwards we felt
a blow on the keel, which almost shook the masts out of the vessel, and
sent some of the people sprawling on deck. The crew jumped about with
dismay, thinking the schooner was sinking, and Ungka rushed to Hassan
and hugged him round the neck, as if he was resolved to be drowned with
him.

"I told you so," said Van Graoul. "They are not fellows to be played
with."

No real damage was done; nor did the whales renew the attack. I suspect
the fellow hurt his back too much to try the same trick again.

No tidings of the _Emu_ were to be gained; and weary of looking for her
in that direction, we stood to the westward, towards the island of
Celebes, to the south of Ceram. We had had a fine breeze all the day;
but as the evening drew on, it fell considerably; and when the sun sunk
beneath the water, it became perfectly calm. The night was hot, and I
remained long on deck in earnest conversation with Fairburn. He was
endeavouring to console and encourage me; for I own that at times I
almost began to despair of the success of my undertaking. There was a
moon in the heavens in the early part of the night; but that also set,
and I was thinking of turning in, when I observed a bright light in the
sky to the westward, and on watching it attentively, it appeared as if
it arose from some large fire close down to the water. Fairburn
remarked it also.

"Can it be a burning mountain?" I asked; "or do you think the natives
of any island thereabouts have been creating a blaze for their
amusement?"

"There is no burning mountain or any island in that direction," he
answered. "See, it rises higher and higher, till the ruddy glare
extends over the whole sky! It can be but from one cause."

"What is that?" I asked.

"A ship on fire," he replied. "I have witnessed such a sight before,
and have no doubt about it."

"Unhappy people!" I exclaimed; "we must try and help the