nheeded midshipmen, who were neither
of an age nor of a rank to wield sufficient authority, proposed to return.
There was little argument necessary to show that the perils increased at
each moment; and, finding that no other expedient remained, the gallant
youths encouraged the men to pull towards the land; intending themselves
to return instantly to the assistance of their commander and his friends.
The oars dashed into the water again, and the retiring boats were soon
lost to view in the body of darkness.

While the fire had been raging within, another element, without, had aided
to lessen hope for those who were abandoned. The wind from the land had
continued to rise, and, during the time lost in useless exertion, the ship
had been permitted to run nearly before it. When hope was gone, the helm
had been deserted, and as all the lower sails had been hauled up to avoid
the flames, the vessel had drifted, many minutes, nearly dead to leeward.
The mistaken youths, who had not attended to these circumstances, were
already miles from that beach they hoped to reach so soon; and ere the
boats had separated from the ship five minutes, they were hopelessly
asunder. Ludlow had early thought of the expedient of stranding the
vessel, as the means of saving her people; but his better knowledge of
their position, soon showed him the utter futility of the attempt.

Of the progress of the flames beneath, the mariners could only judge by
circumstances. The Skimmer glanced his eye about him, on regaining the
poop, and appeared to scan the amount and quality of the physical force
that was still at their disposal. He saw that the Alderman, the faithful
Francois, and two of his own seamen, with four of the petty officers of
the ship, remained. The six latter, even in that moment of desperation,
had calmly refused to desert their officers.

"The flames are in the state-rooms!" he whispered to Ludlow.

"Not further aft, I think, than the berths of the midshipmen--else we
should hear more pistols."

"True--they are fearful signals to let us know the progress of the
fire!--our resource is a raft."

Ludlow looked as if he despaired of the means but, concealing the
discouraging fear, he answered cheerfully in the affirmative. The orders
were instantly given, and all on board gave themselves to the task, heart
and hand. The danger was one that admitted of no ordinary or
half-conceived expedients; but, in such an emergency, it required all t