t allow you to risk your life by remaining a
moment longer than is necessary. We cannot tell when the ship may blow
up. It may be before the captain and I quit her. I order you to go."

Rayner obeyed and descended into one of the yawls. Looking towards the
shore he saw several boats coming off. He pointed them out to the
officer in command of the launch. "Tell them to come under the stern of
the ship and take off the remainder of the crew," said the lieutenant.

While the yawl was pulling towards the Spanish boats, he looked round to
the ship. Already it appeared as if the flames were rushing from every
port, while they were rising higher and higher, forming a vast pyramid
of fire, as circling round and round the masts they caught hold of the
canvas and rigging, and seized the spars in their embrace.

He urged the crew to pull with all their strength, that they might the
sooner return to the assistance of their friends. The Spanish boats
were reached, but in vain he endeavoured to persuade their crews to come
near the burning ship. They were ready enough 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 them, endeavouring to persuade them, and at length
threatening condign punishment if they refused. But nothing that could
be said had any effect. Time was precious, so, putting the men from the
crowded yawl into one of the boats, Rayner, who took charge of her,
urging the men to pull with all their might steered back for the ship.
From the position in which the boat was, between her head and the shore,
she appeared already to be one mass of flame. It seemed impossible
indeed that any human being could still be alive on board. Pulling
round, however, so as to approach the stern, Rayner saw that the after
portion still remained free from flame, though the crew, as if they knew
that there was no time to be lost, were not only descending 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 windows, and from every port, except the
extreme after ones, the flames were rushing out.

Three figures alone stood on the poop; they were those of the captain,
the first lieutenant, and master, who had maintained their perilous
position until every living man was out of t