scape. He felt it his duty to inform the
commander, that watch might be kept to prevent others from following so
bad an example; and he received orders to take a couple of men and to
bring back the deserter if he could be found. He first returned to the
_Eagle_ to warn the boatswain, who was in charge, to look sharply after
their own men.

"Half are drunk already, and as they have somehow or other managed to
get liquor on board there is no fear of them," was the unsatisfactory
answer.

Ralph could only hope that the boatswain himself would keep sober, and
as he could not remedy matters by remaining, he pulled on shore. Having
obtained an interpreter and guide from the British consul, he commenced
his search for Dick. After looking for him for some time, he heard that
an English seaman, answering to his description, had been seen to enter
a house in the neighbourhood of the town. Though it was now nearly dark
he set off at once in the hopes of finding him before he could make his
escape. He knew that he was acting really a kind part towards Dick, who
would, if left on shore, soon fall a victim to intemperance and the
unhealthy climate. The house was reached. The inhabitants appeared to
be very much surprised at the visit, and though they allowed a search to
be made for the runaway, they protested that they had never seen or
heard of him. With much regret Ralph returned to the quay to go on
board his ship. As he and his party approached the shore they observed
a bright glare in the sky over the harbour.

"As I'm alive, there's a ship on fire," exclaimed one of the seamen.
"Hope it isn't our frigate."

"It is one of the ships which came in this morning, at all events,"
observed the guide.

Ralph with an anxious heart hurried down to the quay, where a number of
people were already collected. A ruddy glare extended far and wide over
the harbour from a fiery mass which floated on its surface, lighting up
the buildings and the figures of the people on the shore, and the ships
at anchor off it. Among them lay the _Falcon_, her sides and lofty
masts and rigging brought prominently into view. At some distance from
her was the _Penguin_; and what was Ralph's dismay when he discovered
that the burning ship was the _Eagle_. His impulse was to go off at
once to her--but what aid could he render? Already the flames were
bursting through her hatchways and ports and encircling her masts and
spars. The oil and casks