The smell of burning soon reached one of the marines stationed on the lower deck, who instantly gave the alarm; but almost before the words had passed his lips the flames burst forth.
"Fire! fire! fire!" What a scene ensued! There was confusion at first; for no sound at sea rings so terribly in the ear as the shout of "Fire!" But speedily the stern discipline on board a man-of-war prevailed.

Men were stationed in rows; the usual appliances for the extinction of fire were brought into play; buckets of water were passed down below as fast as they could be drawn.

No miscellaneous shouting took place; but the orders that were necessary, and the noise of action, together with the excitement and the dense smoke that rolled up the hatchway, produced a scene of the wildest and most stirring description.
In the midst of this, the pirate captain, as might have been expected, performed a prominent part.

His great physical strength enabled him to act with a degree of vigor that rendered his aid most valuable.

He wrought with the energy of a huge mechanical power, and with a quick promptitude of perception and a ready change of action which is denied to mere mechanism.