ey swim to us." Saying this, Hans called in a shrill
voice, "Mena-bo," at which the Zulus started up, and looked eagerly in
the direction of the boats, which they could just perceive by aid of the
light given by the burning ship. Having thus called their attention to
him, Hans called in the Zulu language, "Jump into the water, and swim to
me, or the fire will soon kill you."

The Zulus for a few seconds seemed to hesitate, but looking round at the
fire, which was rapidly closing round them, the three men stepped on the
side of the vessel, and jumped feet first into the sea. In an instant
afterwards their heads appeared above water, as they swam rapidly
towards the boats, into which they were dragged by the sailors.

"The men are all mad," said one of the Zulus to Hans. "They put fire to
the ship to free themselves, and now they will not put water to the
fire."

"Are the white men dead?" inquired Hans, referring to the sailors who
had been attacked in the hold.

"Yes, and they would be cold by now were they not kept warm by the
fire... It is all fire where we were."

The escape of the Zulus had either not been noticed by the negroes, or
they supposed it was an act of desperation on the part of these men; for
no notice was taken of it, the negroes still continuing their frantic
proceedings. The slaver was evidently burning inside more than out.
The flames every now and then shot up, whilst at two places in her hull
they had forced a way out. Every now and then there was a hissing
sound, as though water had fallen on a red-hot surface, and steam in
abundance came up from below; the flames again arose, and after a time
the same hissing occurred.

"I believe," said the lieutenant, "the flames have eaten a way through
her somewhere, and the water is entering her; that is what causes the
steam. It is so; look! she is settling down."

As he thus called attention to the slaver, all eyes were turned to her.
The flames, which had previously risen half-way up her masts, suddenly
ceased, whilst a sheet of white steam arose in their stead. The
vessel's hull gradually descended; and the boat's crew had but just time
to obey the command to "pull and together," and to move the two boats a
safer distance from the ship, when the beautifully-modelled slaver, her
yelling cargo of demons, and her mutilated bodies, sank together beneath
the smooth surface of the ocean. Though she went down gradually till
within a few inches