Part 40 (1/2)

The sergeant, saluting, faced about, as if going to perfor his marines, stationed theave orders to the boatswain to turn the hands up, and as soon as they appeared on deck, he shouted, ”Out boats! but understand, my lads, that not one of you is to enter them without leave The marines have received orders to shoot the first h you do not require to be told that”

The crew hastened to the tackles and falls, and with the ularity the boats were lowered into the water when they were veered astern and secured for towing The helm was now put down, the yards braced up, and the shi+p's head directed to the north-west, in which direction the land lay, though not visible from the deck

The cre by this that the captain and officers considered the shi+p to be in great danger, and at the saed them to persevere in their attempts to keep the fire under They had souns to attract her attention, should she be within hearing of them

As the boats, however, would not carry the whole shi+p's coet the booe enough to support those whom the boats could not carry

As it was now evident, froh the hatchways, that the fire orking its way aft, although the flareatest iazine For this purpose the second lieutenant descended with a party ofup a considerable quantity, which was stowed in the stern gallery All the other hands, not otherwise e water down the hatchways; but the sree that they were co senseless on the deck The pohich had been got up being hove into the sea, the captain gave the order to drown thethis task was, however, very great, and the second lieutenant and gunner, with several of thethe atteain descended to the after cockpit, where he found onein the hazardous duty-- Ben Twinch, boatswain's mate

”A few more buckets, and we'll do it, sir!” cried Ben; but almost immediately afterwards he sank down exhausted

The lieutenant, singing out for a rope, fastened it round hi that he hiallant seaman could be drawn up He succeeded, however, and once e quantity of powder reazine, the destruction of all on board would be inevitable Although gasping for breath, he was about again to descend, when a light, active figure, with a rope round his waist, darted passed hinised Rayner He was about to follohen he heard the voice of the , ”Haul me up, quick!”

The next instant Rayner was drawn up, tooa portion of the powder; but a quantity remained, sufficient at any h no hu could exist between the decks forward, the after-part of the lower deck reazine, the carpenter was directed to cut scuttles through the ward-rooht above it

By keeping all the doors closed, the sth it was found that the powder could be drawn, up and hove overboard out of the gallery s Several of the officers volunteered for this dangerous duty Rayner, notwithstanding that he had just before escaped suffocation, again twice descended, and was each tione by, and the wind providentially holding fair, the shi+p was nearing the land

Meantiht at any moment triumph over all the heroic efforts of the crew to subdue it The heat beloas intense The first lieutenant, going forward, found that the hatches had been blown off, as also the tarpaulins placed over the gratings As it was of the greatest importance to keep them on, he directed the carpenter, with as many men as could be obtained, to replace them, while he returned onceup the powder

Although hitherto none of the reatly to his annoyance he saw, on looking out of the ward-room s, the stern ladders covered with people, who fancied that they would there beopen ahe ordered theo and see that theyone of the first who ca up, our hero discovered his forraced yourselves Fletcher, I am sorry to have to say the same to you,” he exclaimed

It was the first time he had ever openly found fault with his fors compelled him to utter the words

Tom, and the whole of the men who had been on the ladders, sneaked away on either side, asha with longing eyes at the boats astern Every now and then a seaht aft and placed under the doctor's care, but of the number four were found to be past recovery, and it seereater portion of the crew, under the direction of the officers, were vieing with each other, trying to keep down the flames

The wind shi+fted a point or two more in their favour The captain iallant sails and royals

Seven anxious hours had passed, hile the men were still aloft, the cry arose, ”Land, land, on the weather bow!”

The men on deck cheered at the announceh the haze right ahead The sight, though the land was still five leagues distant, revived the sinking spirits of the crew, and spurred the all their efforts, the fire rapidly increased Again and again efforts were azine, but the smoke as often drove the men back

By this time the whole of the fore part of the lower deck was on fire, but owing to the ports being closed and all circulation of air prevented, the flames did not rise with the rapidity which would otherwise have been the case The fear was that, the heels of the ht fall

Still they stood right gallantly, carrying their widespread canvas, and urging on the shi+p to the wished-for shore

By this time all communication with the fore part of the shi+p was cut off The creere gathered aft, still actively e doater But foot by foot they were driven towards the stern

At length the devouring eleh all control, and rushed up the fore-hatchway, rising triuh as the foreyard Yet the shi+p kept on her way

The men remained firm to their duty Now, not only from the fore, but from the main hatchway, the fla been thoroughly wetted, they stood still urging on the shi+p towards the land

Ti, it was now several hours past noon For all that period the crew had been fighting desperately with the fiery eleazed at the land On either side a dark mass of smoke ascended before them, and bleay to leeward, while the lurid fla furiously for victory over theIt seemed like a miracle that the lowed far down the depths of the shi+p All were aware that at any ht shi+ft and prevent the shi+p reaching the land ahead, or a galeup and cast the shi+p helplessly upon the rocks, or a calress, or the ht fall and crush those on deck, or, still azine, and her immediate destruction must follow