Year: 1867

sion when we turned on the water But
five minutes at such time was ruin !; the
flame rose higher and higher, and the heat
was awful so that do what we would, we
were beat back and instead of a quiet
crawling fame now, there was regular
roar, and the wind set towards the great
fiery tongues in fierce draught.


:. Stick to it, my man. says the captain
in low voice. Z" 1t is our only chance" :"


And | wouldn't give much for it. sir, y
| says, in the same tone.


Hush - he says and then to the
men, = pump away my lads"


They pumped away hearty enough, and
kept trying on cheer but it soon could
be seen with half an eye that the ship
must 90, for the flames darted up, and al
most before YOU knew it, the rigging was
on fire, and the tongues like leaping from
rope to rope, till the tarry things blazed
furiously. right up to the mainmast-head,
falling on the deck, or cissing into the sea :;
while for far enough off, out into the dark
night, the great faky sparks went flying
along, for all the world like a beautiful
golden SnOw-st0rm.


There says the captain, throwing
down the copper branch with which he had
played on the fire. and shaking his fist
right iii the flames, so that they must have
burned it, d" there" he says savagelv, d"
have fought it out with YOU and you have
beat Now for life saving =.


And then quietly and coolly, he had one
boat lowered down, with the first mate in
and crew Of sailors, and the shrieking
women and children lowered in, while the
quiet ones he kept back. Then there was
water-cask and lot Of biscuit bags
thrown in. and that boat. well loaded
pushed off on the calm sea. and Law to.
watching H.. Then the second mate was
ordered INTO the second boat. with a crew
Of sailors water and bags of biscuit were
thrust in: and then, we'll loaded with wo-
men and children. and one or two Of the
men passengers. that was carefully lower
ed down. unlocked and pushed off


The other two boats were not swung over
the sides, but lay between the masts of the
ship. right in the middle of the deck, and
were full stores and odd things put there
to be out of the way ; but the captain and
men left soon, had tackling fastened to the
boat that was right in front of the fire,
and il wa, hauled up, swung clear, and
lowered down with couple OF men in, and
they rowed il back to the hinder part of
the ship, while we who had been launching
il had to make regular dash through the
flames, which now extended nearly across
the deck One man. however did not dare
To- come through. but plunged overheard
and SWAIN after the boat till he was taken
in


Now them" said the captain; and the
rest of the women We're ,lung down.


did not mean to 90 as long a. | could
help the captain; and then half dozen
Of the men passengers were lowered down.
and they were Just going to shove off,
when | shouts out:


Stop and the captain turns round
angrily to me and SAYS, No water =


Sure enough, they had none, and a little
cask that stood on the deck was sunc
down. and they were going to shove of
again when [ heard Il ~hrck as went
through and through me and saw bright
clare: the man at the ruddcr leaned over.
while at the same moment there was Il
roar and a rush of fearful light. and the
rrcat mainma~t blazing from top to bot
tom and covered with burning rope and
canvas, toppled over towards where the
boat Iav. for the fire had been eating into
it below deck for long enough. 1t was all
in moment. and like the flashing Of some
great sheet of lightning, as in the midst OF
a wild and fearful cry it fell right towards
the boat.


That wa, fearful moment. that was,
and we held our breath with terror and
IL could not help it covered my face
with my hands and dared not look, till
heard loud cheer, and saw the boat safe
lv floating within very few yards of the
half-extiuct mast which had narrowly miss
I ed falling upon the little haven Of safety.


And now they were going to get the last
4 boat out and the three others lay off at a
little distance. while above the hoarse or
ders OF the captain there was the crack
linz and roar Of the flames, now leaping al
IA fearful rate. And yet it splendid
SIGHT, In spite Of the horror; for every
now and then pieces Of the copper wire
rope used III rigging regularly caught fire
and burned with d most beautiful blue
/ light, brighter than in any tirework | ever
saw: while now the toremaSt had taken
fire. and the flames We're tearing along the
/ rigging till the ropes seemed Illuminated
with little beads and tongues of fire. The
heat grew awful, and every now and ther
piece, Of blazing rope, spars and block.
fell rcd-hot and glowing into the sea, to
send up little columns of kissing steam
The whole Of the centre of the ship was
now on fire, and the flames rose prodigious
Iv. floating off and flashing amidst tn,
! clouds of smoke while far away, still
lightly fitted and spun about the golden
faky snow, eddvin@ amongst the smoke
and darting far on high, in the most beau
tiful way imaginable.


think | said before how the tremen
dous heat caused a regular dtaught to Sc
towards the fire, 50 that as you were almos
scorched before the wind came with quite
"A cold rush behind but then, how it made
the flames roar again, and burn NOR,
fiercelv than ever 1t was sickenin.
sight for every now and then the cruel
forkv tongues seemed to keep tapping a
and threatening us. and then dancing am
licking everything up, if In devilish jo,,
at the prospect of soon devouring US poo
sinners.


1t was a horrible sight, and though


didn't show it, yet | could feel my hear
sink every time | was idle for few mo
ments, when | went at it again like say
are | didn't 90 down on my knees t.
pray: butt don't know think | pray
cd earnestly in my heart then, and thoug
| would gladly have been with the wifi
sale i'll the other boat, yet | couldn't fee
as it was suited with fellows duty t