s got up out of the sail-room and dropped
overboard, made fast by a line to one of the clews. Then, as soon as it
was thoroughly saturated, it was dragged inboard, stretched athwart the
deck, and dragged over the flaming hatchway, several men holding it in
position while the carpenter rapidly spiked the head and foot of it to
the deck. Meanwhile, the hose was played incessantly upon it, while
bucket after bucket of water was emptied into it with frantic energy
until the hollow of it over the hatchway was full of water. By keeping
a continuous stream of water pouring into this hollow we seemed to check
the fire for a time, although it was difficult work, on account of the
great clouds of scalding steam that soon began to rise from the water.
But in less than a quarter of an hour the scorched canvas gave way. The
water that it had contained plumped down through the rent on to the
blazing cargo, and was immediately converted into a vast volume of steam
that momentarily checked the fire, and then the flames leaped up again
far more fiercely than ever.

"It is no good," murmured the skipper, turning to me; "the ship is
doomed! The fire is rapidly spreading in spite of all that we can do.
There is nothing for it, therefore, but to take to the boats, and the
sooner that they are in the water the better."

This was quite my own opinion, and I said so. The chief mate was
accordingly called aside and given his instructions, and while the
second mate, with his gang, continued to fight the fire, Mr Priest,
with a few picked men, went to work to provision and water the several
boats preparatory to getting them into the water. The long-boat was an
exception to this arrangement. She stood on chocks upon the top of the
main hatch, and, under ordinary circumstances, was hoisted out by means
of yard tackles on the fore and main-yard-arms. Now, however, that the
foremast was destroyed, it was no longer possible to handle her in this
way, and the only plan that suggested itself was to launch her bodily
off the deck, afterwards bailing out such water as she would probably
ship during the operation. This was accordingly done very successfully,
and in about two hours' time all the boats were alongside, with oars,
rowlocks, a baler each, masts, sails, and other gear complete, and as
much provisions and water as there was room for after allowing space for
the necessary complement of passengers and crew. The Indiaman was well
provide