tle friend of the
moment aroused me to a sense of what was occurring, and I saw, with
horror indescribable, the fierce flames leaping from the deck, heard the
hoarse shouts, beheld the lurid surging of an agonized and despairing
multitude! But above all rang the clear, trumpet-tones of Captain
Ambrose, soon to sink in death:

"To the boats--to the boats! but save the women first--the children--as
ye are Christian men! So help ye, mighty God!"

I heard later how signally this noble charge was disregarded; how
utterly self triumphed over generosity and duty; and how, in enforcing
the example all should have followed. Captain Ambrose lost his valiant,
valuable life. But this was thought nothing of then, and I sat patiently
down to perish!

CHAPTER IV.

It was sunset when I first felt able to sit up beneath the awning of
sails which provident hands had stretched above the central platform
reserved for the occupancy of the women and children, spread thick with
mattresses on the raft, and look about me understandingly.

We were riding smoothly over the long, low, level billows of that summer
sea, sustained beyond their reach on what seemed a rude barn-floor,
composed as this was of the masts, booms, and yards, roughly lashed
together by tarred ropes, no longer needed on the destined ship, and
which had been assigned by the captain for that purpose to Christian
Garth.

A mast was erected in the front of this hastily-constructed raft, on
three sides of which were breastworks, with strong, loose ropes
attached, so that those who clung to this refuge might support
themselves with comparative safety, or rather have a chance for life,
when our "floating grave" should hang suspended perpendicularly on the
steep side of a mountain-billow, or drift beneath it.

Just below, and surrounding the small, elevated platform on which I
found myself when I revived, stretched on a slender mattress by the side
of my feeble widow and her moaning child, were rows of barrels, firmly
fastened by cleats, so as insure, to some degree, not only the
preservation of our food and water, but to form a sort of bulwark of
protection for those who occupied the central portion of the raft.

The young girl, of whom I have spoken as having attached herself to me
during the last moments of my stay on shipboard, and an old negro woman,
whose crooning hymns made a strange accompaniment to the dashing waters,
and whose stolid tranquillity seemed to