Soon after this, my attention was drawn forward, where a vast body of
smoke issued from the hatchway, gallery doors, funnels, and scuttles,
which I soon saw were blown off; I rushed forward and got them secured
again, and in coming aft found the hatches had all been blown off; the
two foremost main-gratings had gone down the hatchway. The after one I
assisted to replace, also the tarpaulin, which was excessively hot,
and left the carpenter to get it secured on. I next thought of the
magazine, where I dreaded some accident. On my way aft, I met some
people again bringing Mr. Banks up in their arms. On reaching the
ward-room, I saw through the windows the stern ladders filled with
people; I broke a pane of glass, and ordered them on the poop,
threatening instant death to any one who dared disobey. On their
beginning to move up, I just took time to summons the men from the
magazine, and went up to the poop to see every one was once more under
the eye of the marines. This done, the smoke having in a great measure
subsided, the maintop-sail was filled, and top-gallant sails set.'

About two o'clock in the afternoon, when they had been seven hours
contending with the fire and smoke, land was discerned through the
haze, on the weather-bow, and it was supposed to be above Cape Creux.

Captain Le Gros, fearing the signals might fall into the enemy's
hands, hove them all overboard. The sight of land gave a turn to the
men's thoughts, and spurred them on to greater exertion. The fire
rapidly increased; but the efforts of the captain and his noble crew
increased with the danger.

Again they attempted to clear the magazine; but the smoke again drove
the men from below, and rendered them powerless. Their courage was,
indeed, kept up by the sight of land, though still five leagues