"The _Golden Wave_ is afire!" he exclaimed. "That light is coming up
out of the cabin!"
"The wreck is on fire!" shouted Tom, and this cry brought everybody
out once more.
With remarkable rapidity the light grew brighter, until the heavens
and the entire bay were lit up by the conflagration. There was a
strong wind blowing, which carried the sparks to the jungle back of
the ship. Listening intently, they could occasionally hear the roaring
and crackling of the flames.
"The ship is doomed, that is certain," said Sam. "I wonder if all
who were on board escaped?"
"The fire has caught in the brushwood on the shore," announced Captain
Blossom, who had continued to use the spyglass.
"Can you see any of the men moving around?" questioned Dora.
"I thought I saw one or two, but I am not certain. Most of the men
must have escaped, but if they were drunk, as Gibson says, perhaps
some have been caught like rats in a trap."
The flames continued to roar upward, and toward the island back of
the ship, for over an hour. During that time they heard two dull
explosions, caused by some barrels of chemicals catching fire. The
second explosion sent the bits of burning wood and rigging flying in
all directions.
"That will leave the mutineers without a home and without stores,"
said old Jerry. "They're in a poor fix now."
"I'd like to know how the fire started," said the captain. "Can you
explain it?" he went on, to Gibson and Marny.
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