essels of the fleet. Bright colored
signal-lights blazed on the decks, and the dark, slender cordage stood
out against the brilliant red and green fires that flickered strangely
upon the dark wooded banks of the river. Rockets rushed high into the
air, and, bursting, let fall a shower of party-colored lights that
told the watchers far down the river that danger was to be expected.
Then the signal-lights went out, and all was dark and silent save
where the lurid glare of the great mass of fire could be seen floating
in the great curves of the tortuous river toward the crowded ships. It
was a time of intense suspense. The little flotilla of fire-boats,
organized by Commander Porter that day, was on the alert; and the
blue-jackets bent to their oars with a will, and soon had their boats
ranged along a bend far above the fleet. Here they waited to catch the
fiery monster, and save the ships. The danger came nearer fast.
Rapidly the flames increased in volume, until the whole surrounding
region was lighted up by the glare; while from the floating fire, a
huge black column of smoke arose, and blended with the clouds that
glowed as though they themselves were on fire. When the raft came into
view around a point, it was seen to be too big for the boats to handle
unaided, and two gunboats slipped their cables, and started for the
thing of terror. From every side the row-boats dashed at the raft.
Some grappled it, and the sailors tugged lustily at their oars,
seeking to drag the mass of flames toward the shore. Then the
"Westfield," under full head of steam, dashed furiously against the
raft, crashing in the timbers and sending great clouds of sparks
flying high in the air. From her hose-pipes she poured floods of water
on the crackling, roaring, blazing mass; while all the time, with her
powerful engines, she was pushing it toward the shore.

In the mean time, the sailors from the fleet of small boats were
swarming upon the raft wherever they could find a foothold free from
flame. Some carrying buckets dashed water upon the flames, some with
axes cut loose flaming timbers, and let them float harmlessly down the
river. It was a fight in which all the men were on one side; but it
was a grand sight, and was eagerly watched by those on the imperilled
vessels. The immediate arena of the conflict was bright as day, but
all around was gloom. At last the pluck and determination of the men
triumph over the flames. The raft, flaming, smou