56 
MEMOIR OP 
flames were now coming out of the main hatchway, 
and seeing the rest of the crew, with the captain, 
still on board, we pulled back to her under her bows, 
so as to be more distant from the powder. As we 
approached we perceived that the people on board 
were getting into another boat on the opposite side. 
She pulled off — we hailed her ; have you all on 
board ? Yes, all save one. Who is he ? Johnson, 
sick in his cot. Can we save him ? No, impossi- 
ble. The flames were issuing from the hatchway. 
At this moment, the poor fellow scorched, I imagine, 
roared out most lustily, having run upon deck. I 
will go for him, says the captain. The two boats 
then came together, and we took out some of the 
persons from the captain’s boat, which was over- 
laden; he then pulled under the bowsprit of the 
ship, and picked the poor fellow up. Are you all 
safe? Yes, we have got the man — all lives safe. 
Thank God ! pull oft’ from the ship. Keep your 
eye on a star. Sir Stamford. There is one scarcely 
visible. 
“ We then hauled close to each other, and found 
the captain fortunately had a compass, but we had 
no light except from the ship. Our distance from 
Bencoolen we estimated to be about fifty miles in a 
south-west direction. There being no landing-place 
to the southward of Bencoolen, our only chance was 
to regain that port. The captain then undertook to 
lead, and we to follow, in a north north-east course, 
as well as we could, no chance, no possibility being 
