A SAIL IN SIGHT. 69 



sailors sullenly took their seats directly over the powder-magazine, expecting momentarily 

 that it would explode and put them out of their misery. A strong pitchy smell suddenly 

 wafted over the ship. "The flames have reached the cable-tier!" exclaimed one; and it 

 was found to be too true. The fire had now extended so far, that there was but one course 

 to pursue : the lower decks must be swamped. Captain Cobb, the commander of the Kent, 

 was a man of action, and, with an ability and decision that seemed only to increase with 

 the imminence of the danger, ordered the lower decks to be scuttled, the coverings of the 

 hatches removed, and the lower ports opened to the free admission of the waves. His 

 instructions were speedily obeyed, the soldiers aiding the crew. The fury of the flames 

 was, of course, checked ; but several sick soldiers and children, and one woman, unable to 

 gain the upper deck, were drowned, and others suffocated. As the risk of explosion somewhat 

 diminished, a new horror arose. The ship became water-logged, and presented indications 

 of settling down. Death in two forms stared them in the face. 



No sail had been seen for many days, the vessel being somewhat out of the regular 

 course. But, although it seemed hopeless, a man was sent up to the foretop to scan the 

 horizon. How many anxious eyes were turned up to him, how many anxious hearts beat 

 at that moment, can well be understood. The sailor threw his eyes rapidly over the waste 

 of howling waters, and instantly waved his hat, exclaiming, in a voice hoarse with emotion, 

 " A sail on the lee bow ! " Flags of distress were soon hoisted, minute-guns fired, and 

 an attempt made to bear down on the welcome stranger, which for some time did not notice 

 them. But at last it seemed probable, by her slackening sail and altering her course, that 

 the Kent had been seen. Hope revived on board; but there were still three painful problems 

 to be solved. The vessel in the distance was but a small brig : could she take over six 

 hundred persons on board ? Could they be transferred during a terrible gale and heavy sea, 

 likely enough to swamp all the boats ? Might not the Kent- either blow up or speedily 

 founder, before even one soul were saved? 



The vessel proved to be the Cambria, a brig bound to Vera Cruz, with a number of 

 miners on board. For fifteen minutes it had been very doubtful to all on the Kent whether 

 their signals of distress and the smoke issuing from the hatchways formed no small 

 item among them were seen, or the minute-guns heard. But at length it became 

 obvious that the brig was making for them, and preparations were made to clear and 

 lower the boats of the East Indiaman. "Although," says Sir Duncan MacGregor, "it 

 was impossible, and would have been improper, to repress the rising hopes that were 

 pretty generally diffused amongst us by the unexpected sight of the Cambria, yet I 

 confess, that when I reflected on the long period our ship had been already burning on 

 the tremendous sea that was running on the extreme smallness of the brig, and 

 the immense number of human beings to be saved I could only venture to hope that 

 a few might be spared." When the military officers were consulting together, as the 

 brig was approaching, on the requisite preparations for getting out the boats, and 

 other necessary courses of action, one of the officers asked Major MacGregor in what 

 order it was intended the officers should move off, to which he replied, "Of course, in 

 runeral order," which injunction was instantly confirmed by Colonel Fearon, who said, 

 ''Most undoubtedly the juniors first; but see that any man is cut down who presumes 



