Here, while Paul made a blaze, Israel ran to collect the tar-pots, which being presently poured on the burning matches, oakum and wood, soon increased the flame.
"It is not a sure thing yet," said Paul, "we must have a barrel of tar." They searched about until they found one, knocked out the head and bottom, and stood it like a martyr in the midst of the flames.

They then retreated up the forward hatchway, while volumes of smoke were belched from the after one.

Not till this moment did Paul hear the cries of his men, warning him that the inhabitants were not only actually astir, but crowds were on their way to the pier.
As he sprang out of the smoke towards the rail of the collier, he saw the sun risen, with thousands of the people.

Individuals hurried close to the burning vessel.

Leaping to the ground, Paul, bidding his men stand fast, ran to their front, and, advancing about thirty feet, presented his own pistol at now tumultuous Whitehaven.
Those who had rushed to extinguish what they had deemed but an accidental fire, were now paralyzed into idiotic inaction, at the defiance of the incendiary, thinking him some sudden pirate or fiend dropped down from the moon.
While Paul thus stood guarding the incipient conflagration, Israel, without a weapon, dashed crazily towards the mob on the shore.
"Come back, come back," cried Paul.
"Not till I start these sheep, as their own wolves many a time started me!" As he rushed bare-headed like a madman, towards the crowd, the panic spread.