that we should be better off with him than on the
larger raft, so we hoped that as soon as he could he would come back to
the ship. In the meantime we set to work energetically to assist the
boatswain; while two or three of the officers remained on board, and,
with the few men to help them whom they could get to work, continued
heaving over all the planks and spars they could find, together with
some empty water-casks and hen-coops, through the ports. We had already
formed a good-sized raft, when an officer, who had hitherto been
labouring on deck, slipped down and joined us, together with a number of
people who were afraid of being abandoned should they not secure a place
upon it.

Among the last articles sent down to us had been a top-gallant-sail,
which Boxall, Halliday, and I at once got ready for hoisting on a long
spar set up as a mast in the fore-part of the raft, that we might,
should it be necessary, get clear of the ship; for although we were
anxious to save as many people as possible, we knew that all would be
lost should too many get upon it.

I had gone to the after-part of the raft, to suggest to the boatswain
that we should fix a rudder, when I caught sight of the captain's boat
pulling away from the ship, leaving a number of the marines on the
quarter-deck. They were shouting to the captain, asking him to come
back for them. His reply was, "I will directly; but I go to call the
other boats to take you on board." This reply evidently did not satisfy
the soldiers. Several of them shouted out, "We will fire, if you do not
return immediately;" but no notice was taken of this threat, and the
crew of the boat gave way with redoubled energy. I was expecting, the
next instant, to hear the rattle of musketry, when a fearful report,
like the sound of a hundred guns going off at once, rang in my ears; the
deck of the ship appeared to lift, her masts and spars trembled, and
bright flames burst forth from every side. It seemed impossible that
any of those remaining on deck could have survived.

CHAPTER FOUR.

MEETING ON THE RAFT--AN ATROCIOUS DEED--A DESPERATE FIGHT--SWIMMING FOR
LIFE--A TERRIBLE DOOM.

The people on the raft, overwhelmed with horror at the fearful
catastrophe which had occurred, were for a time unable to exert
themselves, and had we not been astern of the ship a large portion of
our party would probably have perished; but as it was, no one was hurt.
The boats, instead of returning