as of a thousand thunders is in his ears; stars
innumerable dance before his eyes; he sees as in a dream the yawning
gulf in the floor; a broad glare of fierce white light reels madly to
and fro before him; a confused sound of hoarse voices strikes upon his
ear; he feels that the end is come--that he is dying; but with a last
supreme effort he staggers up the saloon staircase to the deck, turns
instinctively to windward out of the smoke, and with his precious burden
still tightly clasped in his arms, falls prostrate and senseless to the
deck.

Rex Fortescue, who had been present when Violet spoke to Lance of
Blanche's absence, and who had witnessed the hasty departure of his
friend upon his perilous search, was at the head of the companion, on
his way below, having grown anxious at Lance's prolonged absence, when
the latter reappeared on deck; and assistance having been hastily
summoned, the pair who had so nearly met their deaths from suffocation
were, with some little difficulty, at length restored to consciousness.

Meanwhile, it had become apparent to Captain Staunton that the fire was
of a much more serious character than he had anticipated, and that it
was every minute assuming more formidable proportions. He therefore at
length decided, as a precautionary measure, to get the boats into the
water without further delay. He was anxious more particularly about the
launch and pinnace, as these boats were stowed over the main hatch and
would have to be hoisted out by means of yard-tackles. This would be a
long and difficult operation, the ship being under jury-rig; and should
the fire attack the heel of the main-mast before these craft were in the
water, the two largest and safest boats in the ship might be seriously
damaged, if not destroyed, in the process of launching, or perhaps might
defy the unaided efforts of the crew to launch them at all. There would
be no difficulty about the other boats, as they could be lowered from
the davits.

The mates were busy superintending and directing the efforts of their
respective gangs towards the extinguishing of the fire; Captain
Staunton, therefore, after a moment or two of anxious deliberation,
confided to Bob the important duty of provisioning and launching the
boats, giving him as assistants the cook, steward, and two able seamen,
and soliciting also the aid of the male passengers.

Now it happened that the _Galatea's_ boats were somewhat different in
character fro