very man of you, and
then there is no reason whatever why we should not come easily out of
the scrape. Mr Bowles and Mr Dashwood will each take charge of his
own watch. Mr Dashwood, get the fire-engine rigged and under weigh.
Mr Bowles, rig the force-pump, get the deck-tubs filled, and arrange
your watch in a line along the deck with all the buckets you can muster.
Gentlemen," turning to the passengers, "be so good as to keep out of
the men's way, and hold yourselves in readiness to assist in whatever
manner may be required. Now lads, go quietly to your posts, and do your
duty like Englishmen."

CHAPTER SEVEN.

A FIERY ORDEAL.

The chief and second mates had, when named by Captain Staunton, gone
down upon the main deck; and upon the conclusion of the skipper's
address they at once marshalled their watches and led them to their
proper stations. The third mate, boatswain, sailmaker, cook, steward,
and apprentices were embodied with the chief mate's gang, part of whom
were told off to work the force-pump which was to feed the tank of the
fire-engine, while the remainder were formed into line along the deck to
pass buckets to the seat of the fire. The fire-engine, which had
luckily been frequently in use at fire-drill, was in perfect order, and
the men knowing exactly what to do, it was rigged and ready for action,
with tank filled, the hose screwed on and laid along the deck, in a
remarkably short time.

Captain Staunton, on seeing that the men were cool and thoroughly under
control, had immediately gone below again to rejoin the carpenter, whom
he had left busily engaged in seeking the locality of the fire, of the
actual existence of which he had no manner of doubt; indeed one had need
only to go to the companion and breathe the heated and pungent
atmosphere which ascended thence to have resolved any doubt he might
have entertained upon the subject.

"Oh, how dreadful!" exclaimed Blanche, turning with white quivering lips
to Evelin, as the skipper disappeared below; "do you think there really
_is_ fire, Mr Evelin?"

"It is quite impossible to say," answered Evelin calmly, keeping to
himself his own convictions; "but if there is, it cannot have yet gained
much hold, and I daresay a half an hour or so of vigorous work with the
fire-engine will effectually drown it out. And if it does not; if,
looking at the matter in its worst possible light, the fire should after
all get the upper hand and drive us out of