el Armytage was the least agitated, but even he
did not attempt to quiet the alarm of his wife and daughter. Father
Mendez trembled like an aspen leaf. The usual calmness of his exterior
had disappeared. The danger which threatened was strange,
incomprehensible. So occupied were the officers and crew, that none of
the party were observed. The spectacle which soon after met their sight
was not calculated to allay their terror.

For a few minutes all was again darkness, and then rapidly, one after
the other, masses of flame burst forth from the surface of the ocean,
hurrying towards them. As they approached, the sails and rigging of
large vessels were seen amid the flames. No human beings could have
stood on those decks; but yet onward came, rushing impetuously, the
burning fleet. They were the much dreaded fire-ships. On they came.
The boom had been forced. By what power could they be resisted? The
French ships opened their fire on them, and shot were flying about among
friends and foes, increasing the confusion and dismay. Still the
fire-ships sailed on, intent on their mission of destruction. Now a
line-of-battle ship was grappled. For long her gallant crew in vain
sacrificed their lives in the attempt to free her from the fire-ship's
deadly embrace. The cables were cat, and both together drifted away to
leeward. And now dismay seized nearly all the French officers and
crews. Simultaneously the cables were slipped, and they endeavoured to
avoid the threatened danger by flight. Some effected their escape, but
others were overtaken by the fire-ships, and were seen surrounded by
flames. The frigate had been kept under weigh, firing sometimes at the
fire-ships as they sailed by, and at others at boats which were supposed
to be English. As the fire reached the guns of the burning ships they
were discharged right and left, and a whole broadside was poured into
the frigate. It was blowing strong--a shot struck her foremast, and
with all its top hamper away it went over the side, carrying the
maintopmast with it. The frigate luffed up into the wind and became
unmanageable. A fire-ship was approaching. On it came. It got
entangled in the wreck of the mast, and soon the frigate herself was
wrapped in flames.

Edda saw and comprehended the danger. "Oh, mother, we will die
together!" she exclaimed, for she saw no hope of escape.

The crew, led by their captain, made many gallant attempts to cut clear
t