with two marines for guards , laurence went with meed along the dockside streets to the port admiral 's office , where they found nearly more confusion than had been on the deck of the goliath in her last moments after the double broadside had dismasted her : smoke everywhere , fire crawling steadily down through the ship towards the powder magazine , and cannon running wild back and forth on her decks ; here instead the hallways were thick with unchecked speculation .