ication between the ships. In one respect during that night the
condition of those who remained was improved; for we had water to quench
our burning thirst, and food to quell our hunger; besides which, a
boat's crew of seamen belonging to the _Mary_ gallantly remained by us
and navigated the ship, so that we were able to take a sounder rest than
we had enjoyed for many days past. Still the flames did not burst
forth, and another night and day we continued in that floating furnace.
Towards the evening the wind suddenly dropped; and, while the remaining
emigrants were being taken off the wreck, it fell a dead calm.

The last man to leave the deck of the _Black Swan_ was Mr Bell. He
made me and Derrick go down the ship's side just before him. I trust
that we felt grateful to Heaven for our deliverance. Scarcely had we
left the deck of the _Black Swan_ than the flames burst forth from her
hold. They first appeared streaming out of the cabin windows, curling
upwards round the taffrail. By this time it was quite dark; and the
bright light from the burning wreck cast a ruddy glow on the sails and
hull of the _Mary_, and topped the far surrounding waves with a bright
tinge of the same hue. Soon the whole poop was on fire, and the
triumphant flames began to climb up the mizzen-mast. As the ship lay
head to wind, their progress was slow forward, nor did they ascend very
rapidly; consequently the mizzen-mast fell before the main-mast was on
fire. That shortly, however, followed with a loud crash before they
even reached the main-topgallant-yard. Next down came the fore-mast,
and the whole hull was a mass of flame. I felt sick at heart as I saw
the noble ship thus for ever lost to the use of man. The fire was still
raging when, overcome with fatigue and sickness, I sunk on the deck. As
the _Mary_ sailed away from her, she was seen like a beacon blazing
fiercely in mid-ocean. Long those on deck gazed till the speck of
bright light was on a sudden lost to view, and the glow in the sky
overhead disappeared. It was when her charred fragments sunk beneath
the wave.

CHAPTER ELEVEN.

We were kindly welcomed and cared for on board the _Mary_, though we
subjected her passengers and crew to much inconvenience, and to no
little risk of starving, should her voyage be prolonged.

There were ladies who attended with gentle care to the women and
children, and aided also in nursing the men. Many of the passengers and
crew