the lurid light that shone far over the quiet
waters, and the booming sound of cannon that from time to time burst
on its stillness, was one too awful to be soon forgotten. "If we only
do not reach them too late!" cried one of the passengers who, like the
sailors, never even turned their eyes away from the burning spectacle.
"I hope the crew have taken to their boats before this," said the
captain, who with his nightglass to his eye was steadfastly regarding
the unfortunate ship.

The breeze springing up more freshly, we sailed with increased speed
towards the distressed vessel, the forepart of which was now one sheet
of flame; we saw the angry fiery element enveloping the foremast from
top to bottom as in a garment, now sweep over to the mainmast, the
sails of which were instantly on fire. How far the conflagration had
proceeded inside we could not ascertain; but we were very certain the
crew had left her and taken to the boats, for our continued cannon
shots were answered by muskets fired from the barge and jolly boat.

As we approached carefully so as to avoid danger to ourselves from the
collision with the burning ship, a wild cry arose from the foredeck of
the latter--piercing yet mournful, and while pained and astonished we
looked about to discover what it meant, a spectacle singular as
fearful met our eyes. The ship had a number of animals on board which
were being taken to England for a menagerie. In their haste to leave,
the crew had either forgotten to unloose them, or feared that by
liberating them, they might meet in their rage a worse enemy than even
the fire. In wild and unavailing efforts, they dashed furiously
against the iron bars that inclosed them, and their fearful cries
almost drowned the hissing and crackling sound of the flames. At
length they reached the mizzenmast, and the falling yards loosened a
plank or two of one of the cages--a noble lion with flowing mane and
glaring eyes burst forth and sprung overboard. At the same instant an
elephant had freed himself from the rope which fettered his hind legs.
Flourishing his long proboscis he rushed into the midst of the fire,
but soon driven back by the heat he retreated to a portion of the
foredeck which had not yet ignited, and his death-cry echoed loud and
mournfully over the dusky ocean.

The falling of the mainmast ended the sad catastrophe. The cages of
the other animals had taken fire, and their wild occupants bursting
through the half burn