We shall miss it very much when we get ashore , ' said Mary , in a persuasive tone which would have won melody from a shark , if such a thing were possible . Emil had often blessed his one accomplishment during these months , for it cheered the long days , and made the twilight hour his happiest time , wind and weather permitting . So now he gladly tuned his pipe , and leaning on the taffrail near the girl , watched the brown locks blowing in the wind as he sang her favourite song : ` Give me freshening breeze , my boys , A white and swelling sail , A ship that cuts the dashing waves , And weathers every gale . What life is like a sailor 's life , So free , so bold , so brave ? His home the ocean 's wide expanse , A coral bed his grave . ' Just as the last notes of the clear , strong voice died away , Mrs Hardy suddenly exclaimed : ` What 's that ? ' Emil 's quick eye saw at once the little puff of smoke coming up a hatchway where no smoke should be , and his heart seemed to stand still for an instant as the dread word ` Fire ! ' flashed through his mind . Then he was quite steady , and strolled away saying quietly : ` Smoking not allowed there , I 'll go and stop it . ' But the instant he was out of sight his face changed , and he leaped down the hatchway , thinking , with a queer smile on his lips : ` If we are afire , should n't wonder if I did make a coral bed my grave ! ' He was gone a few minutes , and when he came up , half stifled with smoke , he was as white as a very brown man could be , but calm and cool as he went to report to the captain . ` Fire in the hold , sir . ' ` Do n't frighten the women , ' was Captain Hardy 's first order ; then both be stirred themselves to discover how strong the treacherous enemy was , and to rout it if possible . The Brenda 's cargo was a very combustible one , and in spite of the streams of water poured into the hold it was soon evident that the ship was doomed . Smoke began to ooze up between the planks everywhere , and the rising gale soon fanned the smouldering fire to flames that began to break out here and there , telling the dreadful truth too plainly for anyone to hide . Mrs Hardy and Mary bore the shock bravely when told to be ready to quit the ship at a minute 's notice ; the boats were hastily prepared , and the men worked with a will to batten down every loophole whence the fire might escape . Soon the poor Brenda was a floating furnace , and the order to ` Take to the boats ! ' came for all . The women first , of course , and it was fortunate that , being a merchantman , there were no more passengers on board , so there was no panic , and one after the other the boats pushed off . That in which the women were lingered near , for the brave captain would be the last to leave his ship .
Emil stayed by him till ordered away , and reluctantly obeyed ; but it was well for him he went , for just as he had regained the boat , rocking far below , half hidden by a cloud of smoke , a mast , undermined by the fire now raging in the bowels of the ship , fell with a crash , knocking Captain XXXXX overboard .
Brenda Hardy days escape hour merchantman minutes rout shark taffrail