d another. Upon which we all ran to the quarter-deck,
from whence, in a few moments, we perceived a terrible fire at a
distance. We had immediately recourse to our reckonings, in which, we
were all of opinion, that there could be no land that way, it appearing
to be at N.N.W. Hereupon we concluded that some ship had taken fire at
sea, and that it could not be far off by the report of the guns which we
had heard. We made up directly to it, and in half an hour's time the
wind being fair, we could plainly perceive a great ship on fire in the
middle of the sea. Touched with this unhappy disaster, and considering
my former circumstances, when the Portuguese Captain took me up, I
immediately ordered five guns to be fired that the poor creatures, not
seeing us, it being dark, (though we could perceive their flame) might
be sensible there was deliverance at hand, and consequently might
endeavor to save themselves in their boat. Nor was it long before the
ship blew up in the air and the fire was extinguished in the ocean. But
supposing them all to be in their boats, we hung out our lanterns and
kept firing till eight o'clock in the morning; when with our
perspectives, we beheld two boats full of people making towards us tho'
the tide was against them then spreading out our ancient; and hanging
out a waft, as a signal for them to come on board, in half an hour's
time; we came up to them, and took them all in, there being no less than
sixty-four men, women, and children. It was a French merchant ship of
three hundred tons; homeward bound from Quebec in the river of Canada.
The master informed me how, by the negligence of the steersman, the
steerage was set on fire: that, at his outcry for help, the fire was, as
we thought totally extinguished; but, that some sparks getting between
the timber, and within the ceiling, it proceeded into the hold, where
there was no resisting it; & then they got into their boats, as
creatures in the last extremity, with what provision they had, together
with oars, sails, and a compass, intending to go back to Newfoundland,
the wind blowing at S.E. and by E. though there were several chances
against them as storms to overset and founder them, rains and colds to
benumb and perish their limbs, and contrary winds to keep them back and
starve them; _But_, said he, _in this our great distress we heard the
welcome report of your guns, when with unspeakable joy, taking down our
masts and sails, we were resolved