OFF FOR THE JUNGLE. 13 



As the report died away, all eyes were bent on the chase 

 to see if she obeyed that authoritative signal to * heave 

 to ; ' but her white sails still gleamed in the moonlight, 

 and she pursued her course regardless of the mandate. 

 This perseverance in attempting to escape gave good 

 assurance that we were in pursuit of a slave-ship. Many 

 of the crew began already in imagination to spend their 

 prize-money ; the Kroomen especially were chuckling 

 w4th delight, for the very day before, at their earnest 

 request, the figure-head of the ' Pantaloon ' had had his 

 spectacles repainted ' to make him see better.' 



" The proverbial ' slip 'twixt the cup and the lip ' 

 had, however, yet to be illustrated. The guns had been 

 reloaded, this time with shot, and the gunner was stand- 

 ing lanyard in hand awaiting the order to fire, when the 

 captain's attention was attracted by the flapping of the 

 sails — hitherto drawing full — against the masts. The 

 land-w^ind had suddenly subsided, and a hot stifling 

 calm succeeded. On looking round we discovered in one 

 quarter of the horizon the small cloud, literally ' like a 

 man's hand,' which to experienced eyes betokens the 

 quick approach of a tornado. If one of these awful 

 tropical storms should strike the ship while all sail was 

 set, nothing but the loss of her masts could save her. 



" No time now to think of anything but the safety of 

 the ship. 'Hands shorten sail! Quick, men! quick, 

 for your lives ! ' shouted the captain. The crew, aware 

 of the danger, worked well. Sail after sail was taken in. 



