In spite of all the exertions being made on board, with the assistance
of the men from the other ships who had now arrived alongside, the smoke
increased in denseness, and presently burst up above the hatchway, while
we could see the red glare through the ports. The ship having been in
the West Indies for some time, her woodwork was like tinder, and the
flames rapidly gained the mastery. Now forked tongues of fire burst out
from the midship ports, gradually working their way forward and aft. At
length all attempts to save the ship were abandoned. The crew were seen
descending into the boats, some collected forward, others under the
quarter. Down they came by ladders and ropes, the midshipmen and the
boys first, the men following, looking like strings of sausages
surrounding the ship. Rapidly as every one moved, there was no
confusion. As the boats were loaded they pulled off, others taking
their places. So quickly had the fire spread that it seemed as if the
officers had scarcely space left them to stand on before descending.
Shouts were raised when the glitter of the gold lace on their coats was
seen as they came over the quarter. The last man to quit was the brave
captain of the ship. Almost in an instant afterwards she was in a
fierce blaze fore and aft, the flames rushing out of the cabin windows
as well as through the bow ports. We in the meantime had got springs on
our cables, as had all the other ships, in case she should drift from
her moorings.
"I suspect the shot were withdrawn," I observed to Tom Pim.
"I hope so," he answered; but just then--crash! there came a couple of
round shot against our side, while more guns were heard going off in the
opposite direction.
We immediately hauled away on one of our springs, just in time to escape
several more iron missiles, which went bounding across the harbour.
Three or four other ships were struck, but no one on board ours was
hurt. Presently there came a loud roar, the mizen-mast shot up,
followed by the after-part of the deck, and then came hissing down into
the water. The flames surrounding the other masts formed a fiery
pinnacle rising into the dark sky, and immediately afterwards down they
came with loud crashes, the ship looking like a huge roaring and raging
cauldron of flame, while crash succeeded crash as the heated guns fell
into the hold. Several of the people brought on us were severely
scorched, showing the desperate efforts they had made to try and save
their ship. Dr McCall and the assistant-surgeons had work enough in
attending to them. Fortunately the soldiers had not arrived alongside
the _Glasgow_ before she caught fire, and when they came down the
harbour they were put on board our frigate, and we received orders to
carry them to their destination.
Everything was done as rapidly as possible for their accommodation. The
men were berthed on the main-deck. The captain received the commanding
officer, the lieutenants messed in the gun-room, and we had the pleasure
of entertaining the ensigns. The land breeze began blowing about eight
o'clock, the time the _Glasgow_ was to have sailed. We were detained
some time in getting off provisions from the shore, but by dint of hard
work all was ready by ten o'clock, and the night being bright, the
anchor was hove up. With every sail that we could carry set, we glided
out of the harbour. It was important to get a good offing, so that we
might weather Portland Point, the southernmost part of the island,
before the sea-breeze should again begin to blow. We hoped that the
land breeze, which generally begins to drop about midnight, would last
longer than usual, so as to carry us well out to sea. There are ugly
rocks off Portland which it is not pleasant to have under the lee at any
time.
"Shure it would be hard to bate these nights out here, Mr Terence,"
said Larry, whom I met on deck, and who seemed to enjoy as much as I did
the calm beauty of the scene, the stars like specks of glittering gold
shining out of the heavens of the deepest blue, each one reflected in
the tranquil ocean. The line of coast, seen astern and on our starboard
quarter, rose into various-shaped mountains, their outlines clearly
marked against the sky; while every now and then a mass of silver light
was spread over the water, as some inhabitant of the deep leaped
upwards, to fall again with a splash into its liquid home.