t--and had just sent him down the ship's fore-royal and its yard,
with a couple of oars which we found on the booms, when a number of the
crew discovered what we were about, and made a rush to get on the raft.
We shouted to Ben to shove off,--telling him to come back for us, or we
would swim to him. Before he was clear of the vessel's side, however, a
Spanish seaman sprang on the raft; and having, as he thought, secured
his own safety, he showed no inclination, notwithstanding the shouts of
his countrymen, of returning to the ship.

The example we had set was immediately followed by such of the crew as
had retained their senses--the boatswain and two or three more of the
inferior officers taking the lead.

All this time no attempt had been made to put out the fire, which, from
the slow progress it made, might, I felt sure, have easily been done.
But the people now showed more energy in forming the proposed raft than
they had hitherto done. It seemed surprising that the undisciplined
crew did not take possession of the boats; but they were somewhat kept
in awe by a party of marines or soldiers drawn up on the quarter-deck;
and they had, besides, been assured by their officers that they should
be taken on board when all was ready. The boats, which had in the
meantime kept off from the ship, under the command of the lieutenants
and other officers, were called up one by one. The barge being first
summoned, the governor and his family, with several other civilians,
ladies and children, embarked in her, with some provisions, and a few
casks of water; more order and regularity being displayed on this
occasion than on any other. The barge immediately shoved off; and then
most of the civilians and naval officers hurriedly embarked in the other
boats. I asked the captain if he would take us into his boat; but he
replied, with a shrug of his shoulders, that it was impossible, as the
Spaniards would not allow foreigners to embark while their countrymen
remained on board. On hearing this, Boxall proposed to the boatswain
that we should assist in building the large raft; and, as a considerable
number of seamen on whom he could depend had already embarked in the
boats, he thankfully accepted our offer.

Before letting ourselves over the stern, where the raft was being
formed, I looked out for Ben. At length I observed him, some way off,
with his companion, apparently busied in finishing the small raft.
Boxall agreed with me