his death in rude
characters on the stone. It was a conspicuous object on the low island,
and every eye in the _Dolphin_ was fixed on it as they passed. Soon the
point of rock, that had sheltered them so long from many a westerly
gale, intervened and shut it out from view for ever.

A week of uninterrupted fair wind and weather had carried the _Dolphin_
far to the south of their dreary wintering-ground, and all was going
well, when the worst of all disasters befell the ship--she caught fire!
How it happened no one could tell. The smoke was first seen rising
suddenly from the hold. Instantly the alarm was spread.

"Firemen to your posts!" shouted the captain. "Man the water-buckets;
steady, men, no hurry. Keep order."

"Ay, ay, sir," was the short, prompt response, and the most perfect
order _was_ kept. Every command was obeyed instantly, with a degree of
vigour that is seldom exhibited save in cases of life and death.

Buzzby was at the starboard, and Peter Grim at the larboard gangway,
while the men stood in two rows, extending from each to the main hatch,
up which ever-thickening clouds of dark smoke were rolling. Bucket
after bucket of water was passed along and dashed into the hold, and
everything that could be done was done, but without effect. The fire
increased. Suddenly a long tongue of flame issued from the smoking
cavern, and lapped round the mast and rigging with greedy eagerness.

"There's no hope," said Captain Ellice in a low voice, laying his hand
gently on Captain Guy's shoulder.

The captain did not reply, but gazed with an expression of the deepest
regret, for one moment, at the work of destruction.

Next instant he sprang to the falls of the larboard quarterboat.

"Now, lads," he cried energetically, "get out the boats. Bring up
provisions, Mr Bolton, and a couple of spare sails. Mr Saunders, see
to the ammunition and muskets. Quick, men. The cabin will soon be too
hot to hold you."

Setting the example, the captain sprang below, followed by Fred and Tom
Singleton, who secured the charts, a compass, chronometer, and quadrant;
also the log-book and the various journals and records of the voyage.
Captain Ellice also did active service, and, being cool and
self-possessed, he recollected and secured several articles which were
afterwards of the greatest use, and which, but for him, would in such a
trying moment have probably been forgotten.

Meanwhile the two largest boats in the