The powder had been thrown overboard, and another hole having been cut in the deck on the other side, the other pump was rigged, and double the quantity of water poured into the hold; but it was evident to Philip that the combustion increased.  The smoke and steam now burst through the interstices of the hatchways and the holes cut in the deck, with a violence that proved the extent of the fire which raged below, and Philip thought it advisable to remove all the women and children to the poop and quarter-deck of the ship, desiring the husbands of the women to stay with them.  It was a melancholy sight, and the tears stood in Philip’s eyes as he looked upon the group of females—­some weeping and straining their children to their bosoms; some more quiet and more collected than the men:  the elder children mute or crying because their mothers cried, and the younger ones, unconscious of danger, playing with the first object which attracted their attention, or smiling at their parents.  The officers commanding the troops were two ensigns newly entered, and very young men, ignorant of their duty and without any authority—­for men in cases of extreme danger will not obey those who are more ignorant than themselves—­and, at Philip’s request, they remained with and superintended the women and children.

So soon as Philip had given his orders that the women and children should be properly clothed (which many of them were not), he went again forward to superintend the labour of the seamen, who already began to show symptoms of fatigue, from the excess of their exertions; but many of the soldiers now offered to work at the pumps, and their services were willingly accepted.  Their efforts were in vain.  In about half an hour more the hatches were blown up with a loud noise, and a column of intense and searching flame darted up perpendicularly from the hold, high as the lower mast-head.  Then was heard the loud shriek of the women, who pressed their children in agony to their breasts, as the seamen and soldiers who had been working the pumps, in their precipitate retreat from the scorching flames, rushed aft, and fell among the huddled crowd.

“Be steady, my lads—­steady, my good fellows,” exclaimed Philip; “there is no danger yet.  Recollect, we have our boats and raft, and although we cannot subdue the fire, and save the vessel, still we may, if you are cool and collected, not only save ourselves, but everyone—­even the poor infants, who now appeal to you as men to exert yourselves in their behalf.  Come, come, my lads, let us do our duty—­we have the means of escape in our power if we lose no time.  Carpenter, get your axes, and cut away the boom-lashings.  Now, my men, let us get our boats out, and make a raft for these poor women and children; we are not ten miles from the land.  Krantz, see to the boats with the starboard watch; larboard watch with me, to launch over the booms.  Gunners, take any of the cordage you can, ready for lashing.  Come, my lads, there is no want of light—­we can work without lanterns.”