it becomes slack," he said. "You'll know then
that I am not able to get on."

"Don't go, sir! don't go!" cried Jack. "It won't matter to any one if I
get choked, but so many would be sorry if anything happened to you."

"I'll tell you what it is, Mr Rayner," exclaimed Ben; "no man who
hasn't been down to the bottom of Stromboli or down Etna will be able to
live two minutes in the cockpit, and I cannot help you, sir, to throw
your life away. The ship's on fire somewhere forward, and what we've
got to do is to pump the water over it, and try and put it out. If we
can't do that, we must shut down the hatches, and see if we can't
smother it."

Rayner was not inclined to listen to this well-meant and really
judicious advice, but rushing forward, was attempting to make his way
down the ladder. Scarcely, however, had he descended three or four
steps, when the smoke filling his mouth and nostrils, he would have
fallen headlong down had not Ben and Jack hauled him up again, almost in
the same condition as Mr Saltwell had been.

"I told you so, sir," said Ben, as he carried him out of the way of the
hose, which now began to play over the spot, under the direction of Mr
Saltwell. The water, however, seemed to make no impression on the fire,
or in any way to lessen the volumes of smoke, which, on the contrary,
became thicker and thicker.

The men who were directing the hose were compelled to retire. The
carpenters had, in the meantime, been engaged in scuttling the orlop
deck, so that water might be poured down in great quantities. All their
efforts were of no avail, however.

In a short time the first lieutenant was heard issuing his orders to
cover in the hatchways, and to close the ports, so as to prevent the
circulation of air.

With a sad heart Mr Saltwell now went on deck to report to the captain
what had been done. He spoke in a low and earnest tone.

"I am afraid, Captain Martin, that we cannot hope to save the ship," he
said; "the fire may be kept under for an hour or perhaps two hours, but
if it once makes its way through the hatchways and gets to the lower
decks, there is nothing to stop it. I would strongly advise that the
boats should at once be got ready, so that as many lives as possible may
be preserved."

"Were we to do that, the people would immediately fancy that the
destruction of the ship is certain, and abandon themselves to despair,"
said the captain.

"I know our men, and can answer fo