ke men, and not yield while life remains. If we are all
killed, he will take care of the helpless ones who are trusting in him."

Tanda at this time had not returned, and we were once more afraid that
he had been caught by the pirates. At length my uncle's anxiety to
ascertain what was going on made him resolve to set out to try and get
sufficiently near them to watch their movements. I begged to accompany
him.

"If you do, you must promise one thing--to keep behind me; and should I
be captured, to make your escape, and carry back news to the camp of
what has occurred," he observed.

I of course willingly gave the promise he desired. While we were
speaking, we saw, rising in the distance, a thin column of smoke. It
rose higher and higher in the sky. All those in the fort gazed
anxiously towards it.

"They have discovered the house, and set it on fire," observed Mr
Hooker. "Oh, what treasures they are destroying--the ignorant savages!
and yet, I am afraid, under similar circumstances our own countrymen
would not behave much better. They are not likely to appreciate such
treasures more than these dark-skinned Asiatics."

"I am not quite so certain that that is the house on fire," observed Mr
Sedgwick, after watching the smoke for some time. "I should not be at
all surprised if it was the brig that is burning. The smoke, in this
clear atmosphere, is seen a long way off; and though my house would burn
rapidly enough, I scarcely think it would send up such dense volumes as
are now ascending to the blue sky. What do you think, Mr Thudicumb?
It appears to me that the smoke is somewhat to the right of the house,
and further off?"

"I have been watching it attentively," said the mate, "and I agree with
you, sir."

"Still, as the wind is off shore, and there will be no surf in our bay,
I am afraid the fellows will very likely land there; and if so, it will
not be long before they discover the house," observed Mr Sedgwick.
"However, come along, Walter, and we will try to ascertain the true
state of the case."

My uncle, charging our friends to be on the alert, set off down the
hill, rifle in hand; and I, bidding farewell to Emily and Grace,
followed him. I soon caught him up, and we made our way along our
torrent road. We calculated that we should have ample time to get into
the neighbourhood of the house and return to the fort before dark. I
could not help recollecting the tiger we had seen on our way up,