The seamen who were in them saw what was coming, and they seized the ropes which had been dropped to them by the boarders on the rail at the command of the captain, who did not wish them to be sacrificed to the madness of their commander, and they climbed to the chains of the Federal ship with the aid of the boarders.
"Lay her aboard!" shouted Christy as soon as the headway of the ship had been checked, and the grappling irons had been made fast.
The willing and active seamen poured from the rails to the deck of the prize, their officers leading the way.

The main hatch had been removed and a light smoke was coming up through the opening.

The hose from the steam pump of the ship had been drawn on board, and the master was in charge of it.

At the command of the officers the men leaped below at all the openings in the deck, and it was found that she had been fired in half a dozen places.
In most of them the combustibles had only been lighted a few moments before, and they had not become well-kindled.

Except at the main hatch, the men extinguished the flames with their hands and feet, and a stream from the hose put out the one amidships.