of the signal-book.

He ran his finger hastily along the column of figures, and read out to
the skipper, who was looking over is shoulder,--

"Ship on fire--send assistance."

"Now, Mr Chester, keep your eye on the admiral, and see what he says,"
remarked the skipper.

As he spoke I saw a signal going aloft on board the "Victory," and
managed to get it into the field of my telescope just as the flags burst
abroad at the mast-head.

I read out the numbers again.

"All right; I know what that means, without turning up the numbers,"
said the skipper quickly. "It means, `Send away boats to ship in
distress.' So have the goodness to pipe away the pinnace and first and
second cutters, if you please, Mr Annesley."

In another moment the boatswain's shrill pipe was sounding throughout
the ship; the boats, which were hanging at the boom, were brought
alongside, manned, placed in charge of a midshipman to each boat, and
despatched with all speed to the assistance of the unlucky "Proselyte,"
from which, by this time, dense clouds of dark smoke were issuing.

Meanwhile the boats from the rest of the fleet were also pushing off
with the same object as ourselves; and an exciting race ensued. We were
among the last to arrive alongside, having had a longer distance to pull
than any of the other boats; and when we reached the doomed craft, the
flames were bursting out through her ports, roaring fiercely up through
her hatchways, and soaring aloft by means of her rigging like fiery
serpents. Some of her guns were already nearly red-hot. Part of her
main-deck had fallen in; and her main and mizzen-masts were so far burnt
through at the foot that they threatened momentarily to fall.

Although the flames were blazing so fiercely, and had obtained such a
complete hold upon the ship that the magazine was expected to explode at
any moment, and although the enemy, taking full advantage of the
disaster, was concentrating a terrific fire upon that part of the ship
where her crew were mustered, awaiting their turn to go down over the
side into the boats which were waiting to receive them, there was not a
trace of hurry or confusion. Commander Serocold, who had been given the
command of the unfortunate craft, stood on the rail and personally
directed the process of trans-shipping; sending down first the injured,
then the younger and rawer portion of the crew, then the veterans--the
sturdy old bronzed and weather-beaten salts, whose