SIR THOMAS STAMFORD RAFFLES. 
55 
and sailed at daylight foi- England with a fair wind, 
and every prospect of a quiet and comfortable pas- 
sage. 
“ The ship was every thing we could wish, and 
having closed my charge here much to my satisfac- 
tion, it was one of the happiest days of my life. We 
were perhaps too happy, for in the evening came a 
sad reverse. Sophia had just gone to bed, and I 
had thrown off half my clothes, when a cry of Fire, 
6re ! roused us from our calm content, and in five 
minutes the whole ship was in flames! I ran to 
examine whence the flames principally issued, and 
found that the fire had its origin immediately under 
our cabin. Down with the boats. Where is So- 
phia ? Here. The children ? Here. A rope to 
this side. Lower Lady Eaffles. Give her to me, 
says one : I’ll take her, says the captain. Throw 
the gunpowder over board. It cannot be got at ; it 
is in the magazine close to the fire. Stand clear of 
the powder. Shuttle the water-casks. Water 1 
Water ! Where’s Sir Stamford ? Come into the 
boat, Nilson 1 Nilson, come into the boat. Push 
off — push off. Stand clear of the after part of the 
ship. 
“ All this passed much quicker than I can write 
it. We pushed off, and as we did so, the flames 
burst out of our cabin window, and the whole of the 
after part of the ship was iu flames. The masts and 
sails now taking fire, we moved to a distance suffi- 
cient to avoid the immediate explosion ; but the 
