y the sight of land, though still five leagues
distant; but there was still much to be done--many perils yet
surrounded them.--and it was awful to feel that fire and water were
contending for the mastery, and that they must be the victims of one
of these elements, unless by the mercy of God the progress of the
conflagration was stayed, and time allowed them to reach the distant
shore. The fire was increasing fearfully; so much so, that Lieutenant
Tailour describes the lower deck 'burning like the flame in an oven.'
All communication was cut off from the fore-part of the ship. The
flames flew up the fore and main hatchways as high as the lower yards,
but still the brave crew remained firm to their duty; and by keeping
tarpaulins over the hatchways, and pouring down water, they managed
for a time to keep the fire from taking serious hold abaft.

But the crisis was fast approaching when human skill and human
fortitude could be of no avail. In defiance of all their exertions and
precautions, the devouring element pursued its course. Every moment it
was gaining aft; and had not officers and men been true to themselves
and to each other, they must all have perished. The mizenmast was on
fire in the captain's cabin, and the flames were bursting from all the
lee-ports. It was now a quarter past five o'clock, and they were
entering the Bay of Rosas. Could they venture to hold on their way,
and still remain in the ship? A moment's glance around him sufficed
for Captain Le Gros to decide the question. The now triumphant element
was no longer smouldering and creeping stealthily onwards amidst smoke
and darkness, but with a lurid glare, and a sullen roar, the flames
rolled on. The word was given to launch the raft; it was obeyed, and
in a few minutes more the vessel struck, about a mile from the beach,
between the Fort of Ampurius and the Church of St. Pierre. She was now
on fire both fore and aft. Self-preservation is the law of nature, it
is said; but there is a stronger law governing the actions of the
British seaman. Officers and men were of one mind. They all united in
putting first the women and children, then the sick and the
foreigners, into the launch. The two yawls and the jolly-boat took as
many as they could carry from the stern, and put them on board some
Spanish boats from La Escada, which had been sent to their assistance,
but which neither threats nor entreaties could avail to bring near to
the ship.

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