Part 40 (2/2)
Still the officers and crew strove on, though they well knew that no hu flames, which with sullen roar caiven that the mizenmast was on fire in the captain's cabin, and as Rayner looked over the side, he could see the flauns had not been loaded, but there was no necessity to fire signals of distress The condition of the shi+p could be seen fro the shore, and it was hoped that boats would, as she drew near, put off to her assistance
The ht up a chart on deck, and now pointed out to his brother officers the exact spot towards which the shi+p was steering It was the Bay of Rosas Already the shi+p was entering between two capes which formed its northern and southern sides
The captain stood in the athered on deck, for every place beloas filled with sing flaained full mastery
His wish had been to reach the shore before any one quitted the shi+p; he no that to do this was impossible
”My lads,” he said, ”I am about to order up the boats You have hitherto maintained your discipline; let me see that you are ready to obey orders to the last And noe'll have the raft overboard, which will carry every man who cannot be stowed in the boats, even if the Spaniards don't come out to help us Loay”
It was no easyuncontrolled notnearest it
A cheer announced that it had safely reached the water, when the carpenter and his creith a few additional hands, were ordered on to it, to secure the boo a heavy weight
Scarcely had this been done, and the launch ordered up under the stern, than the shi+p struck and reh nearly a mile from the shore Then the tall masts seeh it ht only have been fancy
The marines, who had faithfully performed their duty, were stationed on either side, while the sick and several of the wounded were lowered into the launch The boys and younger o down the ladder, and the otherhauled up, were then loaded with as many as they could carry
”May I stay by you, sir?” asked Rayner of Mr Saltwell
”No, Rayner,” answered the first lieutenant; ”you have done your duty well this day, and I cannot allow you to risk your life by reer than is necessary We cannot tell when the shi+p may blow up It o”
Rayner obeyed and descended into one of the yawls Looking towards the shore he saw several boats co off He pointed them out to the officer in command of the launch ”Tell them to come under the stern of the shi+p and take off the remainder of the crew,” said the lieutenant
While the yaas pulling towards the Spanish boats, he looked round to the shi+p Already it appeared as if the fla higher and higher, for round and round the , and seized the spars in their eth, that they ht the sooner return to the assistance of their friends The Spanish boats were reached, but in vain he endeavoured to persuade their crews to coh to receive on board the people in the yawl, but not to risk their lives by approaching her
One of the officers could speak a little Spanish, and Rayner tried his French upon the condign punish that could be said had any effect Ti the men from the crowded yawl into one of the boats, Rayner, who took charge of her, urging the ht steered back for the shi+p
From the position in which the boat was, between her head and the shore, she appeared already to be one mass of fla could still be alive on board Pulling round, however, so as to approach the stern, Rayner saw that the after portion still reh the crew, as if they knew that there was no ti the ladders, but sliding rapidly down the ropes hanging over the taffrail on to the raft They had good reason for doing so, for he could see the ruddy light even through the stern s, and from every port, except the extre out
Three figures alone stood on the poop; they were those of the captain, the first lieutenant, and master, who hadthe remark Mr Saltwell had ed on his well-nigh exhausted crew to pull up and rescue their brave officers The raft was croith men The shout rose, ”Shove off! shove off!” and with broken spars and pieces of board, those on it were endeavouring to make their way to a distance from the side of the shi+p
Rayner steered his boat under the stern The master was the first to descend, Mr Saltwell came next, and the captain was the last to leave her
”Pull away, Rayner,” he said, in a calm voice ”We have reason to be thankful to Providence that she has not blown up yet, for at any azine, and there is still powder enough, I understand, to send the frag received on board several people from the land, took the raft in tow In a short ti placed the people they carried in the Spanish boats, several of which also arrived, though they lost not a ain towards the shore, as far as they could fro shi+p
The captain directed Rayner to keep astern of the other boats His eye rested on his shi+p as if he desired to see her as long as she existed
The moment of her destruction ca landed, the yaas nearing the shore, when a loud roar was heard as if a whole broadside had been fired The flah in the air; the ments of planks and timbers; the stout sides, rent asunder, rushed outwards, and in another allant shi+p, which had thatfloated trim and proudly on the ocean, were alone visible
Captain Martin looked sad and grave as he stepped on shore; but he felt that he, as well as his officers, had done their duty, and had made every possible effort to preserve the shi+p Neither he nor they could discover the cause of the fire
Fortunately, England had not then declared war against Spain, and the authorities received the British officers and men in a friendlytown vied with each other in rendering them all the service in their power