cry--a cry which, next to "Breakers ahead," is the
most terror-inspiring which can strike on a seaman's ear. It was,
"Fire! fire! fire!" Who uttered it? A man with frantic haste--horror
in his countenance--rushed up from the after hold. "Fire! fire! fire!"
he repeated. In an instant fore and aft the revellers in dismay sprang
from their seats and hurried on deck. The captain was calm and
collected, had he lost his presence of mind, who could have hoped to
escape? With rapid strides he reached the after-hatchway, out of which
streams of smoke were gushing forth. He summoned the passengers and
some of the crew to provide themselves with buckets, and to heave water
down upon the spot whence the smoke seemed to come, while the rest of
the crew were employed in pumping water into the hold. Wet sails and
blankets were brought, and, led by Mr Merton, some of the more daring
of the men leaped down with them, in the hopes of stifling the flames
before they burst forth. I followed the second mate; I knew the risk,
but I resolved to share it with him. "More blankets! more sails!" we
shouted. They were hove down to us; but in vain we threw them over the
lower hatchway. Thicker and thicker masses of smoke came gushing forth,
and we were obliged to cry out to be drawn up, and were almost
overpowered before we reached the deck. Two of our number had been left
behind. Mr Merton and I were about to return, when a loud explosion
was heard. Part of the deck was torn up, and flames burst fiercely
forth through the hatchway. It was very evident that some of the rum
casks had ignited, as was afterwards ascertained, by a candle having
been carelessly left burning in the hold.

All hopes of saving the ship were now abandoned. The boats could not
carry the entire crew and passengers. They were, however, instantly
lowered into the water with a boat-keeper in each, while the rest of the
people were told off, some to get up provisions and water, and others to
construct a raft. I was engaged on the raft, but remembering what I had
suffered on former occasions, I urged the people to take an ample supply
of water in each of the boats. Scarcely was the long-boat in the water
than the flames burst forth through the main hatchway, and had not the
captain been prompt in his orders, the boat itself would have been lost.
Provisions for the raft were put into the long-boat, while we were
working away at its construction. Every moment w