hough the other
officers begged to take his place.

"No, no," he shouted. "Bring wet blankets, wet bedding--anything by
which we may smother the flames!"

Once more he and his companions descended with wet blankets in their
arms. The seat of the fire was evidently far down.

"We must get at the cargo!" cried Mr Thudicumb, from below, to the
captain, who was standing over the hatchway.

A crane was rigged, and whips rove, and bales and packages hauled up,
several more men jumping below to assist. I was passing the buckets
when Mr Tarbox came near me.

"Keep an eye on Ali and his people," he said. "I have a notion this is
their doing. For all they appear so active, they mean mischief, depend
on it."

Still Ali was working away, now passing along a bucket, now hoisting up
a bale of merchandise. Presently, however, I saw him slip away and
glide off. His men, who had apparently been watching him, directly
afterwards also made their way up to the starboard quarter boat; and I
observed that each man carried a package of some sort. I ran round to
where the boatswain was assisting in hoisting up the cargo; and he and
several men, whom he summoned, instantly sprang aft, where we found Ali
and his companions in the act of lowering the boat. Two were already in
her. "Hold fast, you villains!" cried Tarbox, giving a blow to Ali,
which knocked him over.

His companions drew their sharp knives, which they had concealed in
their trousers, and made a rush at the boatswain, who was, however, too
quick for them, and drawing a pistol from his pocket, presented it at
the head of the first; while the men, seizing some boat-stretchers which
had been placed ready for use by the boatswain, laid about them with so
much energy that they quickly knocked over several of the Lascars,
though two or three were wounded in the scuffle. Ali had again sprung
to his feet, but instead of attempting to attack Mr Tarbox, he only
cried out--

"What do you mean? I lowered a boat to save the ladies! Suppose fire
gain on ship, what you do then with them?"

"Oh! is that it, my hearty!" answered Tarbox. "However, the fire is not
going to gain on the ship, I hope. Do you tell your men to come out of
the boat quickly, and make fast the falls again, and just you come along
with me."

Saying this, the boatswain made a rush at the Lascar, and quickly passed
a rope behind his arms. Two other men were seized at the same time,
their knives bei