at last the terrific
element gained the upper hand. The seamen's clothes were literally
scorched off their backs before they would quit the work of humanity on
which they were engaged, but even they were at last obliged to retreat,
leaving the miserable captives to their fate. Again and again, however,
now one, now another, would make a dash in among the flames, and try to
haul out some poor burning creature whose imploring cries their tender
heart could not withstand. One gallant fellow was killed by the falling
of a burning beam before they would desist altogether from their brave
efforts.

By this time the retreating slave-dealers had got completely out of
sight, and when Lieutenant Hemming looked round and saw the number of
men he had lost, and the disabled state of some of his boats, and of so
many of his followers, he felt that he could in no way be justified in
attempting to continue the pursuit. An officer often shows his bravery
and fitness for command as much by his discretion and by holding back as
by pushing forward.

Hemming was just one of these men. If he thought a thing ought to be
done, he did not stop to consider what others would say about it, he did
it. He now ordered his party to collect, and having conveyed some of
the lighter guns to the boats, and spiked and turned the others over
into the mud, and set fire to what would burn in the fort, he ordered
all hands to make preparations for embarking with the rescued slaves, as
well as with four Spaniards, three of whom were wounded, and several
negroes who had been captured. He had formed a plan which he hoped to
carry out. Some time, however, was occupied in repairing two of the
boats; one was so completely destroyed that he could not carry her off.
Before all these arrangements were concluded and the party were prepared
to embark, it was late in the day. Hemming wanted, by a show of
retreating, to throw the slave-dealers and negroes off their guard; and
then to make a sudden dash up the stream and to come upon them unawares,
having previously sent down the river to the ships some of the boats
with the captured slaves. The rest of the officers agreed to the plan
as soon as he propounded it to them, and Murray and Adair were consoled
at the thought of soon being able to return and attempt Jack's rescue.
The state, however, of his wounded men, and the difficulty of navigating
the river in the dark, compelled Hemming to bring up sooner than he