Powell confessed to me that at this failure he experienced a paralysis of thought, of voice, of limbs.
The unexpectedness of this misfire positively overcame his faculties.

It was the only thing for which his imagination was not prepared.

It was knocked clean over.

When it got up it was with the suggestion that he must do something at once or there would be a broadside smash accompanied by the explosion of dynamite, in which both ships would be blown up and every soul on board of them would vanish off the earth in an enormous flame and uproar.
He saw the catastrophe happening and at the same moment, before he could open his mouth or stir a limb to ward off the vision, a voice very near his ear, the measured voice of Captain Anthony said: "Wouldn't light--eh?
Throw it down! Jump for the flare-up." The spring of activity in Mr.Powell was released with great force.

He jumped.