truck on a rock in
the middle of the ocean, the alarm that was instantly spread on board
could not have been greater; and where all had been listless inactivity
but a moment before, was now all life, motion, and excitement.

"A fire! whar?" exclaimed Mr Zachariah Lathrope poking his head out of
the companion-way, judiciously concealing the remainder of his lanky
person, as he had not yet quite finished his toilet. "Snakes and
alligators, Cap'en, but I'm terrible skeart at fires! I hope it ain't
up to much chucks?"

"Oh, no!" said Captain Dinks, reassuringly, expressing what he wished
more than what he felt. He had remained aft in order to somewhat allay
the alarm which the outcry of the steward had excited; but he was
itching to get to the scene of action himself, although he had sent Mr
McCarthy there already, besides ordering the crew to their respective
stations, and having the hose-pump manned.--"Oh, no, nothing at all,
only one of that ass, Llewellyn's, happy discoveries, another sort of
ghost in the cabin! Here, Harness," he added aside to Frank, who had
just come up from below, dropping his voice to a whisper. "Just stop on
the poop a minute, and keep these people quiet. I must go down to the
hold myself to look after matters; don't say anything more than you can
help."

So saying, the captain scuttled down the poop ladder on to the spar-deck
in a jiffey, and in another second he was descending the main hatch,
whence the smoke could be now clearly seen, coming up in clouds.

Mrs Major Negus's voice was also heard at this juncture. The good lady
had ascended the companion behind the American, who still remained at
the spot where he had first made his appearance, and was just then
adjusting his braces; and almost at the same instant that her dulcet
accents reached the ears of those on deck she burst upon them, as it
were by storm, carrying Mr Lathrope along with her, still _en
deshabille_, it is true, as regarded his coat and waistcoat, but
fortunately now with his trousers, or as he called them "pants,"
properly arranged.

"Goodness gracious, man!" she exclaimed frantically--"do get out of the
way. Lord a mercy! where's the fire? Oh dear, oh my! We shall all be
burnt alive? Maurice, my darling boy! come to your mother's arms and
let us die together. Maurice! Where's my boy?"

"You'd better stop that screechin' and say your prayers, marm," said Mr
Zachariah Lathrope, sententiously. "The b'y is