While men with axes worked with might and main to free these poor fellows, the Boreas's boats went about, picking up stragglers from the river.
And now a new horror presented itself.

The wreck took fire from the dismantled furnaces! Never did men work with a heartier will than did those stalwart braves with the axes.

But it was of no use.

The fire ate its way steadily, despising the bucket brigade that fought it.

It scorched the clothes, it singed the hair of the axemen--it drove them back, foot by foot-inch by inch--they wavered, struck a final blow in the teeth of the enemy, and surrendered.