that the "shaling" of the water was like that of a
strong rapid, while the interlacing--so to speak--of the ripples created
a sort of network of miniature breakers, easily visible because of the
phosphorescence set up.

The jar and jolting of this last shock were so severe that I really
began to entertain serious fears as to whether the ship could withstand
them. It seemed to me that if the thing continued very long every rivet
in her would be shaken or torn out of place, and the entire fabric must
fall to pieces; for the deck was now quivering and jolting so violently
that, to maintain our footing, we all instinctively clung to the nearest
thing we could lay hands upon.

I must confess that I was more than a little astonished at the courage
manifested by Mrs Vansittart and her daughter. There could be no doubt
that they were greatly alarmed, yet they were more self-possessed than
any of the rest of us--so much so, indeed, that Mrs Vansittart's voice
was almost steady as she directed me to find Mackenzie and instruct him
to start the engine. "I think I should feel more comfortable if we had
the ship under command," she explained.

I had just executed this commission and returned to the poop, and the
ship was already beginning to gather way, when above the hiss of the
agitated water a low rumble became audible, increasing with,
inconceivable rapidity to a frightful, deafening roar. The vibrations
grew still more violent, and suddenly, with an awful, ear-splitting
explosion, we saw a great column of flame shoot high into the air, some
two miles away and almost directly ahead of us. It looked for all the
world as though a gigantic cannon, planted vertically in the sea, muzzle
upward, had been discharged, except that the flash of fire, instead of
being only momentary, as in the case of a gun, was continuous. It
remained visible for quite ten minutes, and probably endured for a much
longer period. The emission of flame was accompanied by a frightful
roaring sound, like that of a thousand blast furnaces, intermingled with
frequent terrific explosions; and we continued to hear these long after
we had lost sight of the fire.

At the first outburst of flame I instinctively sprang to the wheelhouse
and ordered the dazed and terrified quartermaster to put his helm hard
a-port, and let the ship sweep round in a complete half-circle, so that
we might get away from the dangerous spot as speedily as possible. But
we had h