“He has shown the steadiness of his Holland lineage, to-day.  During the boarding, he was useful and cool.”

“It is well.  Let the Alderman be summoned to the deck, for my time is
limited, and I have much to say,-----”

The Skimmer paused, for at that moment a fierce light glared upon the ocean, the ship, and all in it.  The two seamen gazed at each other in silence and both recoiled, as men recede before an unexpected and fearful attack.  But a bright and wavering light, which rose out of the forward hatch of the vessel explained all.  At the same moment, the deep stillness which, since the bustle of making sail had ceased, pervaded the ship, was broken by the appalling cry of “Fire!”

The alarm which brings the blood in the swiftest current to a seaman’s heart, was now heard in the depths of the vessel.  The smothered sounds below, the advancing uproar, and the rush on deck, with the awful summons in the open air, succeeded each other with the rapidity of lightning.  A dozen voices repeated the word ‘the grenade!’ proclaiming in a breath both the danger and the cause.  But an instant before, the swelling canvas, the dusky spars, and the faint lines of the cordage, were only to be traced by the glimmering light of the stars; and now the whole hamper of the ship was the more conspicuous, from the obscure back-ground against which it was drawn in distinct lines.  The sight was fearfully beautiful;—­beautiful, for it showed the symmetry and fine outlines of the vessel’s rig, resembling the effect of a group of statuary seen by torch-light,—­and fearful, since the dark void beyond seemed to declare their isolated and helpless state.

There was one breathless, eloquent moment, in which all were seen gazing at the grand spectacle in mute awe,—­and then a voice rose, clear, distinct, and commanding, above the sullen sound of the torrent of fire, which was roaring among the avenues of the ship.

“Call all hands to extinguish fire!  Gentlemen, to your stations.  Be cool, men; and be silent!”

There was a calmness and an authority in the tones of the young commander, that curbed the impetuous feelings of the startled crew.  Accustomed to obedience, and trained to order, each man broke out of his trance, and eagerly commenced the discharge of his allotted duty.  At that instant, an erect and unmoved form stood on the combings of the main hatch.  A hand was raised in the air, and the call, which came from the deep chest, was like that of one used to speak in the tempest.

“Where are my brigantines?” it said—­“Come away there, my sea-dogs; wet the light sails, and follow!”

A group of grave and submissive mariners gathered about the ’Skimmer of the Seas,’ at the sound of his voice.  Glancing an eye over them, as if to scan their quality and number, he smiled, with a look in which high daring and practised self-command was blended with a constitutional gaite de coeur.