ariners gathered about the 'Skimmer of
the Seas,' at the sound of his voice. Glancing an eye over them, as if to
scan their quality and number, he smiled, with a look in which high daring
and practised self-command was blended with a constitutional gaite de
coeur.

"One deck, or two!"--he added; "what avails a plank, more or less, in an
explosion?--Follow!"

The free-trader and his people disappeared in the interior of the ship. An
interval of great and resolute exertion succeeded. Blankets, sails, and
everything which offered, and which promised to be of use, were wetted and
cast upon the flames. The engine was brought to bear, and the ship was
deluged with water. But the confined space, with the heat and smoke,
rendered it impossible to penetrate to those parts of the vessel where the
conflagration raged. The ardor of the men abated as hope lessened, and
after half an hour of fruitless exertion, Ludlow saw, with pain, that his
assistants began to yield to the inextinguishable principle of nature. The
appearance of the Skimmer on deck, followed by all his people, destroyed
hope, and every effort ceased as suddenly as it had commenced.

"Think of your wounded;" whispered the free-trader, with a steadiness no
danger could disturb. "We stand on a raging volcano!"

"I have ordered the gunner to drown the magazine."

"He was too late. The hold of the ship is a fiery furnace. I heard him
fall among the store-rooms, and it surpassed the power of man to give the
wretch succor. The grenade has fallen near some combustibles, and, painful
as it is to part with a ship so loved Ludlow, thou wilt meet the loss like
a man! Think of thy wounded; my boats are still hanging at the stern."

Ludlow reluctantly, but firmly, gave the order to bear the wounded to the
boats. This was an arduous and delicate duty. The smallest boy in the ship
knew the whole extent of the danger, and that a moment, by the explosion
of the powder, might precipitate them all into eternity. The deck forward
was getting too hot to be endured, and there were places even in which the
beams had given symptoms of yielding.

But the poop, elevated still above the fire, offered a momentary refuge.
Thither all retired, while the weak and wounded were lowered, with the
caution circumstances would permit, into the whale-boats of the smugglers.

Ludlow stood at one ladder and the free-trader at the other, in order to
be certain that none proved recreant in so trying a