he wreck and the fire-ships, but each time the fierce heat of the
flames drove them back again. Still they persevered. They all saw
that, with the few boats they had remaining, unless the flames were
subdued they must be destroyed. From the rest of the squadron they
could expect no help; some of the ships were seeking safety in flight,
others were in alike predicament as themselves. The French officers
exerted themselves heroically. Again and again they led their men up
among the flames, where many, as with axes in hand they cut away at the
spars or ropes, lost their hold and fell headlong into the burning mass,
or were suffocated by the smoke. Many were precipitated into the water;
and their shrieks were heard as they struggled vainly in their endeavour
to reach the burning frigate driving away before them. Even at that
moment the brave Pedro Alvarez did not forget his passengers. He had
done all that a man could do to save the ship, but he believed that his
efforts would prove fruitless. He now thought of the means of saving
his friends. He was hurrying to the cabin when he perceived them
grouped together on the deck. The three ladies stood, not shrieking nor
giving way to fear, but calm and collected, waiting till they received
directions what to do. Colonel Armytage, with the marquis and Father
Mendez were endeavouring to shield them from the sparks, which flew
thickly around, and threatened to ignite their dresses. The colonel
looked up and saw that the flames were rapidly gaining on the ship. He
was not altogether so stubborn and selfish as not to wish to preserve
the lives of his wife and daughter. The awful scene made him also more
kind and gentle than usual.

"Edda--wife, daughter, we must get you into the boats," he said. "Donna
Julia, and her father, and the priest will accompany us. I must obtain
assistance from some of the crew."

"The boats--the boats!" shouted the captain, rushing now to one side of
the ship--now to the other; they were gone!

Some of the dastards among the crew, in selfish haste to save
themselves, had leaped into them and pulled away.

Where all this time was the first-lieutenant of the ship? He with his
boats had not returned; what had become of him no one could tell. He
might have missed the frigate, and gone in another direction, or might
have been captured by the English. Secretly, Pedro Alvarez hoped that
this might be the case, for whatever his adopted son,