but continued to steer.

"We cannot tell for certain," said the captain.

"No," said the major; "but there seems to me to be no doubt that it was
a powder-keg which the Malays had brought on board, I should say to blow
open the cabin-door. And it did," he added grimly, "and I hope they
liked it."

"What do you propose doing, captain?" said Mr Gregory at last, and the
answer was eagerly listened for. "We are heavily-laden and ought to
make land."

"Yes, but it must not be in the sight of the praus. It is early in the
night yet, and we are evidently in a sharp current."

"Yes, a strong current," said the mate.

"Then row steadily till daybreak, and by then we shall be well out of
sight, and can make for one of the islands to the south, or try and get
in the route of the China ships."

"Right!" said the mate. "Give way, my lads; a slow easy stroke, and
we'll all relieve you in turn."

This was done all through the rest of the night, but with great caution,
for the gig was very low in the water; and while they rowed in turn
those who were not at the oars sat gazing at the burning ship, and the
wounded men sometimes slept.

But wounded or no, all took a turn at the oars, from the captain
downward; and towards morning, when all were utterly exhausted, fair
progress was still made in the boat as she was pulled by the two ladies,
and Mary O'Halloran and Mark.

The night had not been without incidents, for when they were about a
couple of miles from the ship the mainmast fell over the side with a
rush of flame, and lay burning on the surface of the water; to be
followed almost directly by the fore-mast; and the mizen alone remained
standing like a pillar of light for about another hour before it fell in
the opposite direction.

This altered the shape of the fire, but the ship blazed on, the size of
the conflagration seeming less as the distance increased, but still
flaming plainly on the horizon, till just at daybreak a low cloud seemed
to come sweeping over the sea, borne on a sighing breeze, which faintly
rippled the surface, and as this enveloped them the glow astern was
blotted out and a soft rain began to fall.

As it grew lighter the rain became more heavy, and at last it came down
in a perfect deluge, increasing so in violence that before long one of
the men was set to work with the baler emptying the water out that
collected under the thwarts.

It was a depressing time, for as the hours passed on, t