Jove you do, too; I can see it by
the blink of your eyes--so out with it, you long-shore lantern-jawed son
of a baked monkey."

To this elegant adjuration Walford began to stammer out an exculpatory
explanation, which, however, was abruptly nipped in the bud by the
boatswain's mate exclaiming--

"There, belay all that and coil up the slack of your jawing-tackle;
there's no time to talk now; tail on there and try to make yourself
useful. But look out, my lad if this fire gets the upper hand of us;
curse me, if we don't leave you to roast in it."

A vigorous attack upon the fire was speedily organised, Rogers and
Talbot each taking command of a separate party, which they were careful
so to arrange that there should be no possibility of their prisoners
concerting together in a successful attempt to retake the ship. So far,
however, as the passengers were concerned, they appeared to be far too
anxious to subdue the flames to have time for any other thought or
consideration.

All through the ensuing night this curiously-constituted party laboured
in their efforts to get the upper hand of the fire; but it had been
allowed to obtain too firm a hold upon the ship before the alarm was
given; much of the cargo was of a highly combustible nature, and though,
by the zeal and energy with which all hands worked, they succeeded to
some extent in retarding the progress of the flames, when day at length
broke, it became apparent to all that the ship was doomed.

When at last they were compelled, from sheer exhaustion, to desist for a
time from their long-continued and fatiguing efforts, the fact--which
had hitherto escaped their notice--became apparent that, happily, the
gale had blown itself out; the wind had already dropped considerably,
and the sea, though it was still very high, no longer broke in its
former dangerous and menacing fashion.

Upon seeing this, Rogers at once came to the determination not to waste
any further labour in the useless endeavour to save the ship, but to
devote all his energies to the getting of the boats safely into the
water. The mutineers were by this time perfectly sober once more, and
having shaken off with their intoxication the recklessness which it had
engendered, they felt keenly anxious to escape the responsibility of any
further waste of human life.

But, as usual in such cases, their own escape, not only from the danger
of being burnt with the ship, but also from the punishment due to