ed, ready for any emergency, while the water in
them was renewed only yesterday, so there is nothing to do but cut them
adrift and swing them outboard. That is all at present, gentlemen, so
go and get to work at once--why, who are those men on the boat-deck now,
and what are they doing with the boats?"

"Looks like the miners," answered Hoskins. "They're a rough lot, and as
likely as not we may have trouble with 'em. Ay, I thought so! Our
chaps are up there too, trying to send the others away, and they don't
seem inclined to go. Come along, Cooper, we've got to clear those
miners off somehow, or we shall get nothing done."

Therewith the four of us departed upon our respective missions, leaving
the captain in charge on the bridge.

The decks were now full of people rushing aimlessly hither and thither,
stopping everybody they met, and asking each other what had happened.
Meanwhile all the electric lights had been switched on, so that it was
possible to see who was who, and, as I quite expected, no sooner did
those poor distracted creatures catch sight of my uniform than I was
surrounded, hemmed in by a crowd who piteously besought me to tell them
what had happened, and if there was any danger. I had by this time
quite recovered my self-possession, and was therefore able to answer
them calmly and with a steady voice. Naturally, I did not tell them the
whole truth, for that, I knew, would precipitate a panic in which
everybody would get out of hand. I therefore told them there had been a
breakdown in the engine-room, which was being attended to; that there
was no immediate danger, but that I strongly advised them, purely as a
measure of precaution, to return to their cabins, dress themselves
warmly, and put into their pockets, or into parcels, any money or
valuables they might have in their baggage, so that in the event of
anything untoward happening, whereby we might be compelled to take to
the boats, they would be prepared to do so at a moment's notice. Some
of them listened to me and allowed themselves to be persuaded, but
others seemed afraid to leave the deck for a moment lest they should be
overtaken by calamity.

After all, their apprehension was not to be wondered at; there was
excuse enough for it, and to spare. There was a very strong smell of
burning and occasional puffs of smoke coming up from below, where the
engine-room staff were fighting the flames. The ship had taken a heavy
and steadily-in