, of course, thought of his lady-love, and would
probably have collapsed into complete despair, but for the necessity of
keeping up his spirits sufficiently to snub every suggestion made by the
cabin-boy, whose rival familiarity with the topography of Georgetown he
could by no means tolerate; whilst Pedro, though docile as a spaniel to
us, despised Alfonso as only a half-caste can despise a negro somewhat
blacker than himself, and burned for safe opportunities of displaying
his superiority. But when Pedro expressed a somewhat contemptuous
conviction that this glowing sky was the result of rubbish burning on
plantations up the country, and skilfully introduced an allusion to
relatives of his own who had some property in canefields, Alfonso's
wrath became sublime.

"You no listen to dat trash ob cabin-boy," said he. "Wait a bit, and
I'se find him dirty work below dat's fit for he. Keep him from troubling
gentlemen like us wid him lies. Plantation? Yah! He make me sick. Tell
you, me know Demerary well 'nuff. De town is in flames. Oh, my
Georgiana!"

So much, indeed, was beyond doubt before long, and as the fire seemed
perilously close to the wharves and shipping, the captain decided to lie
off for the night. The thermometer in his cabin stood at ninety degrees,
which perhaps accounted for his having no anxiety to go ashore; but, in
spite of the heat, Dennis and I were wild to see what was going on, and
when Alister called to us to help to lower the jolly-boat, and we found
we were to accompany him, we were not dilatory with the necessary
preparations, and were soon rapidly approaching the burning town.

It was a strange sight as we drew nearer and nearer. Before us, on the
sea, there was a line where the cold silver of the moonshine met the
lurid reflections of the fiery sky, and the same cool light and hot glow
changed places over our cheeks as we turned our heads, and contrasted
on the two sides of the sail of the jolly-boat. And then we got within
earshot. A great fire is terrible to see, but it is almost more
terrible to hear, and it is curious how like it is to the sound of great
waters or a great wind. The roar, the hiss, the crackle, the pitiless
approach--as Dennis said,

"I'll tell ye what it is, Jack. These elemental giants, when they do
break loose from our service, have one note of defiance amongst them;
and it's that awe-ful roar!"

When we stood in the street where the fire was, it was deafening, and it