Prince_, of Liverpool, had sailed
from Melbourne for home on such a date, and that all had gone well with
them until such another date, when the ship was discovered to be on fire
in the fore hold. Every effort had then been made to subdue the flames,
but ineffectually, the fire continuing to spread, until, some three
hours after the discovery of the outbreak, the flames burst through the
deck, when it became apparent that the ship was doomed, and the boats
were ordered out. According to the narrative of the men the ship had
been abandoned in a perfectly orderly manner, the passengers going away
in the cutters and gigs, in charge of the captain and the three mates,
while the remaining portion of the crew, for whom room could not be
found in these boats, were told off to the longboat. They had remained
by the ship until she burned to the water's edge and sank, and then made
sail in company, steering a north-west course. Then, on the fourth day,
a westerly gale had sprung up, and the boats had become separated. This
was supposed to have occurred about a fortnight before we had fallen in
with them; but they admitted that they were by no means sure as to this
period, for on the twelfth day after abandoning the ship their
provisions had become exhausted and they had been subjected to all the
horrors of starvation, during the latter portion of which they had lost
all account of time.

Having heard their story, it became necessary to tell them my own, which
I did in considerable detail, winding up by informing them that, the
brig having been found derelict, the salvage money upon her would amount
to something very considerable, and that, while by right the whole of it
might be claimed by Miss Onslow and myself, we would willingly divide it
equally among all hands instead of offering them ordinary wages for
their assistance in taking the vessel into port.

I was rather disappointed to observe that this generous offer--as I
considered it--evoked no show of enthusiasm or gratitude on the part of
my crew; they accepted it quite as a matter of course, and as no more
than their due, although they were fully aware that, between us, Miss
Onslow and I had already taken care of and sailed the brig for several
days, and--barring such an untoward circumstance as a heavy gale of
wind--could no doubt have eventually taken her into Table Bay. I said
nothing, however, knowing from past experience that forecastle Jack is
not overmuch gi