CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.
THE SHIP ON FIRE.
Jack, with the rest of those who had been wounded, had been sent to thehospital. Rayner the next day obtained leave to visit him. He wassorry for Tom, who was thus left very much to his own resources, and hetried to find an opportunity of speaking a kind word to his formercompanion; but Tom, as before, sulkily kept aloof, so that he wascompelled to leave him to himself. He was very sorry, soon after, tosee him being led along the deck by the master-at-arms. Tom lookeddreadfully downcast and frightened.
Rayner inquired what he had been doing.
"Attempting to desert, sir," was the answer. "He had got on shore andhad dressed himself in a smock-frock and carter's hat, and was makinghis way out of the town."
Tom could not deny the accusation, and he was placed in irons, awaitinghis punishment, with two other men who had also run from the ship andhad been caught.
Rayner felt a sincere compassion for his old messmate, and obtainedleave to pay him a visit, anxious to ascertain if there were anyextenuating circumstances by which he might obtain a remission of hispunishment.
"What made you try to run, Fletcher?" he asked, as he found Tom and histwo companions seated in "durance vile," on the deck.
"I wanted to go back to my father and to try and persuade him to get memade a midshipman as you are," answered Tom. "It's a shame that agentleman's son should be treated as I have been, and made a powdermonkey of, while you have been placed on the quarter-deck."
"I thought that you had applied to your father before, and that he hadrefused to interfere," said Rayner, taking no notice of Tom's remark inregard to himself.
"I know that, well enough; but it was my brother who answered theletter; and, as my father is a clever man, I daresay by this time he hasbecome rich again, and, for very shame at having a son of his a commonship's boy, would do as I wish. Can't you tell the captain that, andperhaps he'll excuse me the flogging? It's very hard to be preventedseeing my family, and to be flogged into the bargain. It's more than Ican bear, and I've a great mind to jump overboard and drown myself whenI get my wrists out of these irons."
"You'll not do that," answered Rayner, knowing very well that Tom didnot dream of putting his threat into execution; "but I'll tell the firstlieutenant what you say about your wish to see your family, though Ifear it will not influence him in recommending the captain to remit yourpunishment. I would advise you, whatever happens, to submit, and totry, by doing your duty, to gain a good name for yourself," said Rayner,who gave him some other sound advice before he returned on deck.
Mr Saltwell shook his head when he heard what Rayner had to say.
"The captain won't forgive him, you may depend upon that, Rayner," heanswered; "desertion must be punished, were it only as a warning toothers."
Rayner, fortunately for himself, was on shore when Tom underwent hispunishment, so that he was saved the pain of seeing it inflicted.
The frigate had been surveyed, but what opinion had been formed abouther was not known for some time. At length the captain, who had gone onshore, returned, and, mustering the ship's company, informed them that,according to the surveyor's report, it would take some months to put herin thorough repair, and that in the meantime he had been appointed tothe command of the store-ship _Bombay Castle_, of sixty-four guns, boundfor the Mediterranean, and he should take his officers and crew withhim. "We all of us might wish for more active service, my lads, but weshall not be long absent, and I hope by the time we come back that weshall find our tight little frigate as ready for any duty she may besent on, as you all, I am sure, will be."
A cheer was the reply to this address, and the next day the officers andcrew of the _Thisbe_ went on board their new ship. They had, however,first to get her ready for sea, and then to receive the stores on board,by which time several of the wounded men, including Jack Peek, hadsufficiently recovered to join her.
The _Bombay Castle_ was rolling her away across the Bay of Biscay with anortherly breeze. She was a very different craft from the _Thisbe_, andthough more than twice her size, not nearly so comfortable. CaptainMartin had received orders to avoid an engagement, except attacked, andthen to do his best to escape, as the stores she carried were of greatvalue, and were much required by the fleet. Though several sail weresighted supposed to be an enemy's squadron, she managed to escape fromthem, and arrived safe at Gibraltar. Here she was joined by the _Ione_frigate, and the two ships sailed together, expecting to fall in withthe fleet off Toulon.
The two ships lay almost becalmed in the Gulf of Lyons. Severalofficers of the _Ione_, which was only a short distance off, had come onboard, when Captain Martin advised them, somewhat to their surprise, toget back to the frigate.
"I don't quite like the look of the weather," he remarked. "I've seenthe masts of a ship whipped out of her, when not five minutes beforethere was no more wind than we have at present."
The frigate's boat left the side and was seen pulling rapidly towardsher. Suddenly the cry was heard, "All hands on deck to save ship!"
Those who were below, springing up, found the ship heeling over till heryard-arms almost touched the foaming water, which came rushing over thedeck, while the watch were engaged in letting fly tacks and sheets,lowering topsails, clewing up, and hauling down, blocks were rattling,sails shivering, the wind roaring, the sea leaping, hissing, andfoaming. The helm was put up, the ship righted, and away she flewbefore the furious blast, not having suffered any material damage.
The _Ione_, however, could nowhere be seen. Struck by the squall, shemight either have been dismasted or have capsized. In the former caseit was very probable that she might fall into the hands of the enemy;but, much as the captain desired it, he could not return to herassistance.
Night came on, and the gale increased, the big ship tumbling and rollingabout almost as much as she would have done in the Atlantic, so rapidlydid the sea get up. It took some time to get everything snug, but asthe ship was at a considerable distance from the land, no great anxietywas felt for her safety.
In the morning the master reported that by his calculation they wereabout thirteen leagues south-east of Cape Saint Sebastian, on theSpanish coast.
The wind had fallen with almost the same rapidity with which it hadrisen, but there was still a good deal of sea on. It had now shifted.The first lieutenant was officer of the watch, and was superintendingthe operation of washing decks.
Rayner, and another midshipman, also with bare feet and trousers tuckedup, were paddling about, directing the men in their various duties.
Our hero had just came aft, and was addressing Mr Saltwell, when thelatter looking forward, suddenly exclaimed, "What can that smoke be?Run and see where it comes from!"
As Rayner hurried forward he observed a thick volume of smoke rising outof the fore-hatchway, and immediately afterwards a similar ominous cloudascended from the main hatchway. Before he had made a step aft toreport this he saw Mr Saltwell hastening forward.
The next moment the cry of "Fire!" was raised, and the people camerushing up the hatchway in the midst of volumes of smoke ascending fromthe orlop deck.
"Rayner, go and inform the captain what has occurred," said MrSaltwell, in a calm tone. "Let the drum beat to quarters!" he shouted.
The rolling sound of the drum was soon heard along the decks, and themen, springing from all parts of the ship, hurried to their respectivestations, where they stood, ready for their orders.
Not a cry was heard. Not an expression of alarm escaped from one of themen. Scarcely a word was spoken as they stood prepared to do theirduty.
Summoning the gunner and the boatswain, the first lieutenant ordered theformer to open the ports, to give light and air below, and the latter topipe up the hammocks. He then ascended to the orlop deck, made his wayfirst into one tier, then into another, in both of which he found thesmoke issuing exceedingly thick from forward. He was now joined by thesecond lieutenant and Rayner.
"We'll
just go into the sail-room and ascertain if the fire is there,"he said.
On reaching it, there was no appearance of fire or smoke. It was thusevident that the seat of the fire was farther forward. He and hiscompanions next proceeded to the hold, but the dense smoke compelledthem to beat a retreat, as their throats became affected as if from thefumes of hot tar. A second attempt to reach the hold was equallyunsuccessful. The entire absence of heat, however, convinced them thatthe fire could not be in that part of the ship, but that the smoke foundits way through the bulkheads.
They were returning on deck, when a cry was raised that the fire wasdown forward.
"I alone will go!" said Mr Saltwell. "Not a life must be riskedwithout necessity. Remain, and render me any assistance I may require."
Having descended to the orlop deck, he was attempting to go down intothe cockpit, when several men rushed by him, crying out that the firewas increasing. He endeavoured to retreat, but would have fallen beforehe reached the deck, had not the second lieutenant and Rayner, springingforward, assisted him up, and the next moment he sank down, apparentlylifeless.
It was some minutes before the fresh air revived him.
Two poor fellows were suffocated by the smoke rolling in dense volumesalong the lower deck, and others were rescued half dead by theirshipmates.
Some short time was of necessity lost while the captain and master andthe lieutenants were holding a consultation as to what was to be done.
In the meantime, Rayner, seeing the importance of discovering the seatof the fire, resolved at every risk to make the attempt. Withouttelling any of the officers of his intention, he called on Ben Twinchand Jack and Tom, whom he met on his way, to accompany him, and to bringa long rope with him. On reaching the hatchway he fastened the endround his waist.
"Haul me up if you find it becomes slack," he said. "You'll know thenthat I am not able to get on."
"Don't go, sir! don't go!" cried Jack. "It won't matter to any one if Iget choked, but so many would be sorry if anything happened to you."
"I'll tell you what it is, Mr Rayner," exclaimed Ben; "no man whohasn't been down to the bottom of Stromboli or down Etna will be able tolive two minutes in the cockpit, and I cannot help you, sir, to throwyour life away. The ship's on fire somewhere forward, and what we'vegot to do is to pump the water over it, and try and put it out. If wecan't do that, we must shut down the hatches, and see if we can'tsmother it."
Rayner was not inclined to listen to this well-meant and reallyjudicious advice, but rushing forward, was attempting to make his waydown the ladder. Scarcely, however, had he descended three or foursteps, when the smoke filling his mouth and nostrils, he would havefallen headlong down had not Ben and Jack hauled him up again, almost inthe same condition as Mr Saltwell had been.
"I told you so, sir," said Ben, as he carried him out of the way of thehose, which now began to play over the spot, under the direction of MrSaltwell. The water, however, seemed to make no impression on the fire,or in any way to lessen the volumes of smoke, which, on the contrary,became thicker and thicker.
The men who were directing the hose were compelled to retire. Thecarpenters had, in the meantime, been engaged in scuttling the orlopdeck, so that water might be poured down in great quantities. All theirefforts were of no avail, however.
In a short time the first lieutenant was heard issuing his orders tocover in the hatchways, and to close the ports, so as to prevent thecirculation of air.
With a sad heart Mr Saltwell now went on deck to report to the captainwhat had been done. He spoke in a low and earnest tone.
"I am afraid, Captain Martin, that we cannot hope to save the ship," hesaid; "the fire may be kept under for an hour or perhaps two hours, butif it once makes its way through the hatchways and gets to the lowerdecks, there is nothing to stop it. I would strongly advise that theboats should at once be got ready, so that as many lives as possible maybe preserved."
"Were we to do that, the people would immediately fancy that thedestruction of the ship is certain, and abandon themselves to despair,"said the captain.
"I know our men, and can answer for their doing their duty," replied MrSaltwell, with confidence. "If we delay getting out the boats, we mayfind it impossible to do so at last, and the lives of all on board maybe sacrificed. We can trust to the marines, and give them directions toprevent any of the men getting into the boats until you issue the orderfor them to do so."
"You are right, Saltwell; send the sergeant of marines here," said thecaptain.
The sergeant quickly appeared and stood bolt upright, with his hand tothe peak of his hat, as if on parade, ready to receive any orders whichmight be given.
"Call out your men, and understand that they are to load with ball andshoot any of the seamen who get into the boats without orders."
The sergeant, saluting, faced about, as if going to perform someordinary routine of duty, and, quickly mustering his marines, stationedthem as directed. The first lieutenant now gave orders to the boatswainto turn the hands up, and as soon as they appeared on deck, he shouted,"Out boats! but understand, my lads, that not one of you is to enterthem without leave. The marines have received orders to shoot the firstman who attempts to do so, though you do not require to be told that."
The crew hastened to the tackles and falls, and with the most perfectregularity the boats were lowered into the water when they were veeredastern and secured for towing. The helm was now put down, the yardsbraced up, and the ship's head directed to the north-west, in whichdirection the land lay, though not visible from the deck.
The crew knew by this that the captain and officers considered the shipto be in great danger, and at the same time it encouraged them topersevere in their attempts to keep the fire under. They had some hopesalso of falling in with the _Ione_ or by firing the guns to attract herattention, should she be within hearing of them.
As the boats, however, would not carry the whole ship's company, thecaptain directed the carpenter and his mates to get the booms overboardfor the purpose of constructing a raft large enough to support thosewhom the boats could not carry.
As it was now evident, from the increasing volumes of smoke whichascended through the hatchways, that the fire was working its way aft,although the flames had not yet burst out, it became of the greatestimportance to get the powder out of the magazine. For this purpose thesecond lieutenant descended with a party of men, and succeeded inbringing up a considerable quantity, which was stowed in the sterngallery. All the other hands, not otherwise employed, were engagedunder the different officers in heaving water down the hatchways; butthe smoke increased to such a degree that they were compelled to desist,several who persevered falling senseless on the deck. The powder whichhad been got up being hove into the sea, the captain gave the order todrown the magazine. The difficulty of accomplishing this task was,however, very great, and the second lieutenant and gunner, with severalof the men, were drawn up, apparently lifeless, after making theattempt. Lieutenant Saltwell now again descended to the after cockpit,where he found one man alone still persevering in the hazardous duty--Ben Twinch, boatswain's mate.
"A few more buckets, and we'll do it, sir!" cried Ben; but almostimmediately afterwards he sank down exhausted.
The lieutenant, singing out for a rope, fastened it round him, thoughfeeling that he himself would be overpowered before the gallant seamancould be drawn up. He succeeded, however, and once more returned to thedeck above. Still, he knew that a large quantity of powder remaineddry, and that should the fire reach the magazine, the destruction of allon board would be inevitable. Although gasping for breath, he was aboutagain to descend, when a light, active figure, with a rope round hiswaist, darted passed him, and he recognised Rayner. He was about tofollow, when he heard the voice of the midshipman shouting, "Haul me up,quick!"
The next instant Rayner was drawn up, too much exhausted to speak. Hehad succeeded in drowning a portion of the powder; but a quantityremained, suffici
ent at any moment to blow the ship into the air.
Although no human being could exist between the decks forward, theafter-part of the lower deck remained free from smoke. In the hopes ofgetting at the magazine, the carpenter was directed to cut scuttlesthrough the ward-room, and gun-room, so as to get down right above it.By keeping all the doors closed, the smoke was prevented from entering,and at length it was found that the powder could be drawn, up and hoveoverboard out of the gallery windows. Several of the officersvolunteered for this dangerous duty. Rayner, notwithstanding that hehad just before escaped suffocation, again twice descended, and was eachtime drawn up more dead than alive. Several hours had now gone by, andthe wind providentially holding fair, the ship was nearing the land.Meantime, the fire was fast gaining on them, and might at any momenttriumph over all the heroic efforts of the crew to subdue it. The heatbelow was intense. The first lieutenant, going forward, found that thehatches had been blown off, as also the tarpaulins placed over thegratings. As it was of the greatest importance to keep them on, hedirected the carpenter, with as many men as could be obtained, toreplace them, while he returned once more aft, to superintend theoperation of getting up the powder.
Although hitherto none of the men had attempted to shirk their duty,greatly to his annoyance he saw, on looking out of the ward-roomwindows, the stern ladders covered with people, who fancied that theywould there be more secure, and escape discovery.
At once bursting open a window he ordered them all up, and directedRayner to go and see that they made their appearance on deck. Among oneof the first who came creeping up, our hero discovered his formermessmate Tom Fletcher.
"You people have disgraced yourselves. Fletcher, I am sorry to have tosay the same to you," he exclaimed.
It was the first time he had ever openly found fault with his formercompanion, but his feelings compelled him to utter the words.
Tom, and the whole of the men who had been on the ladders, sneaked awayon either side, ashamed, at all events, of being found out, and stilllooking with longing eyes at the boats astern. Every now and then aseaman was brought aft and placed under the doctor's care, but of thenumber four were found to be past recovery, and it seemed doubtfulwhether several others would revive.
The greater portion of the crew, under the direction of the officers,were vieing with each other, trying to keep down the flames.
The wind shifted a point or two more in their favour. The captainimmediately ordered the hands aloft, to set the topgallant sails androyals.
Seven anxious hours had passed, when while the men were still aloft, thecry arose, "Land, land, on the weather bow!"
The men on deck cheered at the announcement. In a short time it couldbe observed through the haze right ahead. The sight, though the landwas still five leagues distant, revived the sinking spirits of the crew,and spurred them on to greater exertions. Still, notwithstanding alltheir efforts, the fire rapidly increased. Again and again efforts weremade to clear the magazine, but the smoke as often drove the men back.By this time the whole of the fore part of the lower deck was on fire,but owing to the ports being closed and all circulation of airprevented, the flames did not rise with the rapidity which wouldotherwise have been the case. The fear was that, the heels of the mastsbeing consumed by the fire, the masts themselves might fall.
Still they stood right gallantly, carrying their widespread canvas, andurging on the ship to the wished-for shore.
By this time all communication with the fore part of the ship was cutoff. The crew were gathered aft, still actively employed in fightingthe flames by heaving down water. But foot by foot they were driventowards the stern.
At length the devouring element burst through all control, and rushed upthe fore-hatchway, rising triumphantly as high as the foreyard. Yet theship kept on her way.
The men remained firm to their duty. Now, not only from the fore, butfrom the main hatchway, the flames were seen to ascend, but for sometime, the courses having been thoroughly wetted, they stood still urgingon the ship towards the land.
Time went on. The fire had commenced at seven in the morning, it wasnow several hours past noon. For all that period the crew had beenfighting desperately with the fiery element for their lives. Anxiously,with straining eyes, they gazed at the land. On either side a dark massof smoke ascended before them, and blew away to leeward, while the luridflames rose beneath it, striving furiously for victory over the mastsand spars, sails and rigging. It seemed like a miracle that the mastsshould stand in the midst of the hot furnace which glowed far down thedepths of the ship. All were aware that at any moment one of severalfearful events might occur. The wind might shift and prevent the shipreaching the land ahead, or a gale might spring up and cast the shiphelplessly upon the rocks, or a calm might come on and delay herprogress, or the masts, burnt through, might fall and crush those ondeck, or, still more dreadful, a spark might reach the magazine, and herimmediate destruction must follow.
Still the officers and crew strove on, though they well knew that nohuman power could extinguish the raging flames, which with sullen roarcame nearer and nearer to where they stood.
An alarm was given that the mizenmast was on fire in the captain'scabin, and as Rayner looked over the side, he could see the flames burstout of the lee ports. The guns had not been loaded, but there was nonecessity to fire signals of distress. The condition of the ship couldbe seen from far along the shore, and it was hoped that boats would, asshe drew near, put off to her assistance.
The master, some time before, had brought up a chart on deck, and nowpointed out to his brother officers the exact spot towards which theship was steering. It was the Bay of Rosas. Already the ship wasentering between two capes which formed its northern and southern sides.The captain stood in the midst of his officers and men, gathered ondeck, for every place below was filled with smoke, and, except in theafter-part of the ship, the raging flames had gained full mastery.
His wish had been to reach the shore before any one quitted the ship; henow saw that to do this was impossible.
"My lads," he said, "I am about to order up the boats. You havehitherto maintained your discipline; let me see that you are ready toobey orders to the last. And now we'll have the raft overboard, whichwill carry every man who cannot be stowed in the boats, even if theSpaniards don't come out to help us. Lower away."
It was no easy matter to perform this operation, with the fire raginguncontrolled not many feet off, almost scorching the backs of the menstanding nearest it.
A cheer announced that it had safely reached the water, when thecarpenter and his crew, with a few additional hands, were ordered on toit, to secure the booms on either side, so as to increase its power ofsupporting a heavy weight.
Scarcely had this been done, and the launch ordered up under the stern,than the ship struck and remained immovable, though nearly a mile fromthe shore. Then the tall masts seemed to sway to and fro as if theywere about to fall, though it might only have been fancy.
The marines, who had faithfully performed their duty, were stationed oneither side, while the sick and several of the wounded were lowered intothe launch. The boys and younger midshipmen were next directed to godown the ladder, and the other men were told off. The two yawls andjolly-boat being hauled up, were then loaded with as many as they couldcarry.
"May I stay by you, sir?" asked Rayner of Mr Saltwell.
"No, Rayner," answered the first lieutenant; "you have done your dutywell this day, and I cannot allow you to risk your life by remaining amoment longer than is necessary. We cannot tell when the ship may blowup. It may be before the captain and I quit her. I order you to go."
Rayner obeyed and descended into one of the yawls. Looking towards theshore he saw several boats coming off. He pointed them out to theofficer in command of the launch. "Tell them to come under the stern ofthe ship and take off the remainder of the crew," said the lieutenant.
While the yawl was pulling towards the Spanish bo
ats, he looked round tothe ship. Already it appeared as if the flames were rushing from everyport, while they were rising higher and higher, forming a vast pyramidof fire, as circling round and round the masts they caught hold of thecanvas and rigging, and seized the spars in their embrace.
He urged the crew to pull with all their strength, that they might thesooner return to the assistance of their friends. The Spanish boatswere reached, but in vain he endeavoured to persuade their crews to comenear the burning ship. They were ready enough to receive on board thepeople in the yawl, but not to risk their lives by approaching her.
One of the officers could speak a little Spanish, and Rayner tried hisFrench upon them, endeavouring to persuade them, and at lengththreatening condign punishment if they refused. But nothing that couldbe said had any effect. Time was precious, so, putting the men from thecrowded yawl into one of the boats, Rayner, who took charge of her,urging the men to pull with all their might steered back for the ship.From the position in which the boat was, between her head and the shore,she appeared already to be one mass of flame. It seemed impossibleindeed that any human being could still be alive on board. Pullinground, however, so as to approach the stern, Rayner saw that the afterportion still remained free from flame, though the crew, as if they knewthat there was no time to be lost, were not only descending the ladders,but sliding rapidly down the ropes hanging over the taffrail on to theraft. They had good reason for doing so, for he could see the ruddylight even through the stern windows, and from every port, except theextreme after ones, the flames were rushing out.
Three figures alone stood on the poop; they were those of the captain,the first lieutenant, and master, who had maintained their perilousposition until every living man was out of the ship.
Remembering the remark Mr Saltwell had made just before he had quittedthe ship, Rayner again urged on his well-nigh exhausted crew to pull upand rescue their brave officers. The raft was crowded with men. Theshout rose, "Shove off! shove off!" and with broken spars and pieces ofboard, those on it were endeavouring to make their way to a distancefrom the side of the ship.
Rayner steered his boat under the stern. The master was the first todescend, Mr Saltwell came next, and the captain was the last to leaveher.
"Pull away, Rayner," he said, in a calm voice. "We have reason to bethankful to Providence that she has not blown up yet, for at any momentthe fire may reach the magazine, and there is still powder enough, Iunderstand, to send the fragments far around."
The first yawl having received on board several people from the land,took the raft in tow. In a short time the other boats returned, havingplaced the people they carried in the Spanish boats, several of whichalso arrived, though they lost not a moment in pulling again towards theshore, as far as they could from the burning ship.
The captain directed Rayner to keep astern of the other boats. His eyerested on his ship as if he desired to see her as long as she existed.The moment of her destruction came at last. The rest of the crew havinglanded, the yawl was nearing the shore, when a loud roar was heard as ifa whole broadside had been fired. The flames rose high in the air; themasts shot upwards surrounded by burning fragments of planks andtimbers; the stout sides, rent asunder, rushed outwards, and in anotherminute a few blackened fragments of the gallant ship, which had thatmorning floated trim and proudly on the ocean, were alone visible.
Captain Martin looked sad and grave as he stepped on shore; but he feltthat he, as well as his officers, had done their duty, and had madeevery possible effort to preserve the ship. Neither he nor they coulddiscover the cause of the fire.
Fortunately, England had not then declared war against Spain, and theauthorities received the British officers and men in a friendly manner,while many of the inhabitants of the neighbouring town vied with eachother in rendering them all the service in their power.