A strong breeze was blowing. While the Dyaks were
rejoicing round the head of the man it appeared to me they had so
treacherously murdered, I saw a bright flame spring up from under the
house. Presently it caught the dried bamboos which formed the flooring,
and in a few seconds the whole building was in flames. As the greater
number of the inhabitants were absent, there were not people enough to
attempt to put it out. A few seemed to run into the building, but
quickly retreated. I dared not return, warned by the fate of Ali, and
suspecting that, should I fall into the Dyaks' power, I should be
treated in the same way. I therefore bent to my oars, and began to pull
down the stream as fast as I could go. I might have hoisted my sail,
but that, I thought, might attract the attention of the Dyaks. In the
meantime the whole house was wrapped in flames, while the wind blew the
light embers towards the neighbouring houses and trees. The rice
plantation caught fire, and soon I saw the fire extending on either side
down the banks of the river. It seemed as if a hundred torches had been
applied to the jungle at the same moment, but it was not so. The spark
which Ali had kindled was the origin of the whole. Fearful was the
rapidity with which the flames had spread among the dry brushwood. For
months probably not a drop of rain had fallen there. Now the fire
worked its way amid the leaves and dry grass, now the flames mounted the
trees, wrapping round the tall palms, the leaves being like touch-paper;
and no sooner was one ignited, than the next caught fire. Thus both
banks of the river soon bore the appearance of being covered with
gigantic torches flaming and waving in the air. The sun had set by this
time, the flames looking more fierce and lurid amid the darkness of
night. Away the fire leaped from tree to tree, licking up with its
fiery tongue every object it encountered. I pulled for my life, for the
fierce flames blew across from side to side of the stream, making a
fiery arch overhead, while the boughs as they burnt through came
crashing down in masses of fire astern of me.

Fast as I rowed, the flames came faster, and it seemed impossible that I
should escape. A fearful death, I thought, was about to overtake me.
It was like some terrible dream. I dreaded lest the boat might ground
on some bank, or run against the wide-spreading roots of the
mangrove-trees. But on, on; I felt that my only prospect of e