huge
pieces of burning wreck fell hissing into the water on either side, and
far beyond where I was, none of any size touched the wherry. For a
minute or more I was so confounded by the awful occurrence that I did
not think of my old friend. I scarcely knew where I was or what I was
doing. The moment I recovered my presence of mind I put the boat about,
getting out an oar to help her along, and stood back towards the burning
wreck, which appeared for a moment like a vast pyramid of flame rising
above the surface, and then suddenly disappeared as the waters closed
over the shattered hull.

I stood up, eagerly gazing towards the spot to ascertain if any human
beings had survived the dreadful catastrophe, though it seemed to me
impossible that a single person could have escaped. One boat alone was
afloat with some people in her, but they were sitting on the thwarts or
lying at the bottom, not attempting to exert themselves, all more or
less injured. The other boats had been dragged down, as the ship sank.
All about were shattered spars and pieces of the deck, and some way off
the masts with the yards still fast to them. Here and there was a body
floating with the head or a limb torn off. One man was swimming, and I
saw another in the distance clinging to a spar, but the former before I
could get up to him sank without a cry, and I then steered for the man
on the spar, hoping against hope that he might be old Tom. I shouted to
him that he might know help was coming, but he did not answer. Meantime
boats from the various ships lying around were approaching. I plied my
oar with all my might, fearing that the man I have spoken of might let
go his hold and be lost like the other before I could reach him. The
nearer I got the more I feared that he was not Tom. His face was
blackened, his clothes burnt and torn. Then I saw that he had two legs,
and knew for certain that he was not my old friend. Still, of course, I
continued on till I got up to the spar, when I tried to help the poor
man into my boat, for he was too much hurt to get on board by himself.
But my strength was insufficient for the purpose, and I was afraid of
letting go lest he should sink and be lost. There was no small risk
also of my being dragged overboard. Still, I did my best, but could get
him no higher than the gunwale.

"Well done, youngster! Hold fast, and we'll help you," I heard a voice
sing out, and presently a man-of-war's boat dashin