This was his powder flask, which was wrapped in the folds of the cloth round his waist.

With little difficulty he succeeded in freeing it and, moving a step closer to the fire, he cast it into the midst of it, at the very moment the man with the lighted brand was approaching Tom.

Then he stepped back as far as he could from the fire.

The natives on guard over him, not understanding the movement, and thinking he meditated flight, closed around him.
An instant later there was a tremendous explosion.

The red hot embers were flaming in all directions, and both Ned and the savages who stood by him were, with many others, struck to the ground.