was greatest
of all: eight fine ships were lost, the crews having, with some few
exceptions, perished with them."

"Can't we imagine a great disaster--a very great disaster? I'll paint my
own storm, so pray go on."

"Amongst the merchant shipping was a large American bark which rode out
the gale, at anchor, for several hours; but, as the storm increased, her
captain, who was on shore, made signal to the mate to slip his cable
and run for safety to Castellamare. The mate, a young Englishman, named
Rogers--"

"Samuel Rogers?"

"The same, my Lord, though it is said not to be his real name. He,
either misunderstanding the signal,--or, as some say, wilfully mistaking
its meaning,--took to his launch, with the eight men he had with him,
and rowed over to a small despatch-boat of the Royal Navy, which was to
have acted as convoy to the 'Ercole,' but whose officers were unable
to get on board of her, so that she was actually under the command of a
petty officer. Rogers boarded her, and proposed to the man in command
to get up the steam and try to save the lives of the people who were
perishing on every hand. He refused; an altercation ensued, and the
English--for they were all English--overpowered them and sent them
below--"

"Don't say under hatches, my dear boy, or I shall expect to see you
hitching your trousers next."

Temple reddened, but went on: "They got up steam in all haste,
and raised their anchor, but only at the instant that the 'Ercole'
foundered, quite close to them, and the whole sea was covered with the
soldiers and the galley-slaves, who had jumped overboard, and the
ship went down. Rogers made for them at once, and rescued above a
hundred,--chiefly of the prisoners; but he saved also many of the crew,
and the soldiers. From four o'clock till nigh seven, he continued to
cruise back and forward through the bay, assisting every one who needed
help, and saving life on every side. As the gale abated, yielding to the
piteous entreaties of the prisoners, whom he well knew were political
offenders, he landed them all near Baia, and was quietly returning to
the mooring-ground whence he had taken the despatch-boat, when he was
boarded by two armed boats' crews of the Royal Navy, ironed and carried
off to prison."

"That will do; I know the rest. Blagden asked to have them tried in
open court, and was told that the trial was over, and that they had been
condemned to death, but the sentence was commuted by roy