Most of these articles had been deserted, when the people
were rallied to exertion by their officers. A couple of empty shot-boxes
and a mess-chest were among them, and on the latter were seated the
females, while the former served to keep their feet from the water. As the
arrangement of the spars forced the principal mast entirely beneath the
element, and the ship was so small as to need little artificial work in
her masting, the part around the top, which contained the staging, was
scarcely submerged. Although a ton in weight was added to the inherent
gravity of the wood, still as the latter was of the lightest description,
and freed as much as possible of every thing that was unnecessary to the
safety of those it supported, the spars floated sufficiently, buoyant for
the temporary security of the fugitives.
"Cut the fast!" said Ludlow, involuntarily starting at several explosions
in the interior, which followed each other in quick succession, and which
were succeeded by one which sent fragments of burning wood into the air.
"Cut, and bear the raft off the ship!--God knows, we have need to be
further asunder!"
"Cut not!" cried the half-frantic Seadrift--"My brave!--my devoted!--"
"Is safe;--" calmly said the Skimmer, appearing in the rattlings of the
main-rigging, which was still untouched by the fire--"Cut off all! I stay
to brace the mizen-top-sail more firmly aback."
The duty was done, and for a moment the fine figure of the free-trader was
seen standing on the edge of the burning ship, looking with regret at the
glowing mass.
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