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he had wrought himself up for all the emergencies of the occasion was apparent, from the fixedness of his posture, high port, and commanding aspect. Firm and immoveable, as if prepared to "brave the arrows of outrageous fortune," he still felt, that let prudence devise, or boldness achieve what means they might for their salvation, almost every thing depended on the subordination and discipline of the crew in this trying hour. His anxiety soon gave place to a confident contemplation, that much of the difficulties of his situation were removed by the ready obedience displayed to the prescribed regulations. Deliberately, and with comparative little bustle, the men were observed repairing to their respective stations, eager to perform the duties therewith connected.

Some were seen 66 rigging the pumps," others drawing water through the port-holes, and flooding the decks from stem to stern. Here a few hands were clearing the boats on the booms, "tracing up the stay," and rounding down theyard-tackle-falls," preparatory to hoisting them out. Now a division of marines were seen tumbling off the booms the captain's cumbrous and heavy pressed haybags, and shouldering them over the side: while others were unstowing the ship's company's hammocks from the nettings, and soaking them in the rolling mass of water now accumulated on deck; which, agitated by the ship's motion, as she mounted the wave, or descended into the trough of the sea, revolved along her deck, or broke in plashes against her sides. Thus, thoroughly soaked and wetted in salt water, these sacks were passed down the hatchways, as fire dampers, to a few of the petty officers below on the "tween decks." In the hope of excluding air, and thereby preventing an extension of the fire abaft, this party had nearly succeeded in building, with these wet hammocks, a wall or barricade across the lower deck; which was only interrupted by the dense suffocating smoke. compelling them very reluctantly to abandon the completion of their enterprise.

* Many of our "yacht-rigged ships" are now seen without "yard tackle pendants" aloft, which are kept below on deck, to trace up as required. We once witnessed the loss of a valuable life by this unne cessary piece of nautical dandyism.

The topmen aloft hauling and whipping up,' buckets of water, filled by the firemen' below, continued wetting the sails and rigging in every direction. The remaining marines were employed in working the only engine on board,* whilst the pipe was directed by the chief boatswain's mate with as much steadiness and aim, as if occupied in washing round the ship's side when at anchor.

Action is every thing to a sailor; and it will be found that nothing is more disheartening than permitting him to brood over a disaster. In the bustle and activity of duty, another species of excitement and anxiety originates, calculated to divert his attention from pondering on an uncontrollable calamity, which would only uselessly repress his spirits.

The carpenter's crew' were busied above in scuttling the waist in different places, so as more speedily to flood the deck underneath, in the immediate vicinity of the bens' or lockers, where the spare sails and combustible stores were stowed.

The mound of wet hammocks, piled on the lower deck, already appeared to check the progress of the flame abaft. Every thing, however, depended upon stifling it forward, and eventually preventing its bursting out through the deek above. This event was momentarily apprehended by the commander; and from the contiguity of the fire to the pitch and oakum seams of the planks-all composed of American pine-it was only natural such a result must shortly follow.

Perhaps no officer, however his senior in the service, was better acquainted with the character of those whose destiny was confided to his care, or knew better how, by sacrificing to their humour, to kindle their enthusiasm. He was as well aware of the importance of timing things with the tar, as he was that men generally, and sailors in particular, were imitative animals. Whether it arose from these considerations, or that he was impelled by the overpowering influence of the hour, his conviction of the ne

*In those days, the largest three-decker in the service was only fur nished with one fire engine.

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cessity there existed for making light of every personal sacrifice was soon made apparent to the seamen. Despite of their proverbial contempt for expense and cost of attire, they were not prepared to see their captain, on finding materials failing for keeping down the fire, suddenly stripping off his coat, and without waiting to loose the epaulettes attached, trampling it in the water till well saturated; and then hurling it, at the risk of suffocation by the thick volume of ascending smoke, down the forehatchway on the flames below.

“ Hurrah---hurrah---more swabs !"* waggishly exclaimed the boatswain, eyeing the epaulettes as they flew past him down the foot of the fore-ladder where he stood, his whole figure blackened with smoke, and reeking with heat and the water that had been cast on him; while almost in the midst of the fire---“ Hurrah, my lads! soak and send."

The flames themselves hardly flew faster than the contagion of the captain's example--every man on deck doffed his jacket or Guernsey frock, and soaking it in the water, passed it on to the boatswain-"That 's your sort," said he, "heave and awash. Keep her out of the barracks,† and you'll soon have her under."

The clothing of the seamen, so opportunely converted into fire dampers, had, for some time, a considerable effect in subduing the fury of the flames; but the insidious and destructive element soon burst out with renewed vigour.

The dense, pithcy smoke rendered all human endeavours vain to reach the spot, where it raged with irrepressible fury, and made irresistible progress. Several unavailing attempts had been made by the boatswain to direct his dampers with precision, or throw them sufficiently forward, so as to counteract the destructive ravages which the ascending flames were making on the ceiling of the 'tween decks, or under part of the planks and beams of the deck.

The captain, and the three commissioned officers, were for a few minutes observed debating together. "If once,"

*Swabs literally bundles of rope-yarns used for the purpose of drying up the decks. In figurative phrase, epaulettes.

†The marines' mess-place, so designated by the blues.

said Staunch, "the fire burst through the deck, we must bear up to keep the blaze and falling embers from flying aft."

"I don't know that, Sir," said Stowel-" fire always creeps to wind'ard."

"Well-bear up, I'm determined."

"I agree with you, Sir," said Burton-." besides, we've a better chance of falling in with relief by going fast through the water, than in remaining by the wind."

It was now manifest that the ship's company, observing the officers in consultation, began to relax in their exertions; a result which was in an instant perceived by their commander.

Hasty," ," said Staunch, " I perceive the men don't like this parley of our's together---they think danger's in the wind---just jump for'ard, you and Stowel, and cheer 'em up."

In this Staunch was actuated by a double motive. He was, above all things, desirous that the spirits of the crew should not be depressed; which he was too well acquainted with the character of the tar not to suspect would be the case, were they to imagine there existed any reason for this secrecy; or, in other words, that the danger was such, that it would be unsafe to communicate to them all its alarming extent. He also was aware that, as a skilful seaman and a man of quickness and resource, Burton was that person whose opinion or advice was more available than that of all the officers in the ship together. "And, Burton," said he, observing that the first lieutenant and master were on the fore part of the deck, and out of hearing, I wish to have your opinion as to the prudence of hoisting the boats out, ere we put the ship before the wind."

. Burton paused for a moment in a thoughtful mood. “It would be as well, Sir," said he, " to have them out, ifwe could be certain it would not have the effect of impressing the men with a greater idea of their danger."

"Hurrah, my lads!---heave quick in the foretop," cried Staunch, endeavouring to direct the people's attention to that quarter, and prevent them drawing any unfavourable conclusion from his close conference with Burton.

VOL. I.-18

"That's the danger which 'tis so desirable to avoid,” said Staunch, earnestly resuming his conversation" however, there's no time to be lost. In a few minutes we shall be compelled to decide."

"I foresee it, Sir," said the lieutenant," and therefore advise you at once to whip 'em out. Besides, a word from you, may lull their suspicion of danger."

The captain took the lint. "Mister Brace," cried he, addressing the boatswain---" hands out boats---we may as well get them out o' the way. Firemen and topmen aloft ---remain in their stations."

The cool and deliberate tone with which these orders were delivered, was in itself sufficiently reassuring; and the orders seemed rather to originate in a desire to clear the deck for the accommodation of the men, than in the prospect of any immediate necessity for taking to the boats.

The cutter which, as usual, was stowed inside the yawl, was whipped over the side in a second; and a steady hand being put on board to steer her, was veered astern by a strong hawser. The launch, or, rather the yawl (for in vessels of this size the latter answers the purpose of the former), was not so easily lifted from her bed on the booms: but after she had, with some difficulty, been raised sufficiently high, previously to clearing the gunwhale, the flames bursting from beneath, and catching the fore-stay tackle fall, she fell forward on the guns, and stove in her bows. A mingled murmur of horror escaped from several simultaneously, in consequence of this disaster, which was as quickly checked by Staunch, exclaiming... "Never mind, lads---never mind, we sha'n't want her."

The firm, and even cheerful tone of these consolatory words, seemed to have a soothing effect upon the excited feelings of the anxious crew; who had now renewed their efforts to subdue the flames (which were fast ascending aloft,) with a courage apparently proportioned to the magnitude of the perils with which they had to contend.

The jolly-boat, abaft, and the gig on the quarter, had also been lowered down, and dropped astern by a hawser, with a boat keeper in each. This accomplished, the fast consuming vessel was immediately put before the wind; and it now may be said she flew through the one element,

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