of night, that the atmosphere was
peculiarly thick, while I could smell an odour of burning wood. More
people rushing up with the same fearful shouts, the alarm soon became
general. Halliday and I cried out to the men nearest us to get buckets
and blankets, and that we would try to discover from whence the fire
proceeded, and endeavour to put it out; but no one listened to us. Some
of the soldiers and passengers were rushing about the deck like madmen;
others were on their knees calling to the saints to assist them; while a
number of the seamen rushed below, returned with axes, and began hacking
at the shrouds and stays--as if, having made up their minds that the
ship would be lost, they intended to cut away the masts. Some of the
officers were endeavouring to recall the men to their duty, but others
seemed to have lost their senses; while the civilians were as frantic as
the rest: indeed, a panic had too evidently seized the greater part of
those on board.

Finding that we could do nothing, Halliday and I made our way aft to
look for Boxall, and to ask what he advised we should do--feeling that
it would be wise, at all events, to keep together. On our way we met
with Ben. "I find, sir, that the careless Spaniards have forgotten to
hoist our raft on board, as they intended doing, and she is still
alongside," he said. "Now, as I see that these fellows are not likely
to help themselves, it's our business, I have a notion, to look after
number one; so I will just slip down on the raft and try what I can do
to improve it, if you will send me over all the planks and spars you can
lay hands on."

Fortunately, just then Boxall found us out, and approved of Ben's
proposal. The officers, in the meantime, were lowering the boats which
remained on board, the larger ones being already in the water. We
offered to assist some of them who were trying to lower the starboard
quarter boat; but even those who had before been civil to us now rudely
pushed us aside; and we felt sure that, even should they succeed in
launching her, they would refuse to take us on board.

Ben having got on the raft, had hauled it under the main chains. There
was no lack of spars--the deck was piled up with a number, not only for
the use of the ship, but for other vessels on the station; and there was
also the framework and rigging complete of a small vessel. We quickly
took from these spars and ropes sufficient to enable Ben to complete the
raf