owly by him to the cabin-door.

"Are you sure you smelt fire?" he whispered.

"Yes, sir, and there is smoke coming out from between those lower
hatches."

"If I go down to make sure the men will take alarm and there may be a
rush," said the mate coolly. "Here, go and rouse up Morgan quietly.
Don't say what's wrong. I want him."

"And my father?" panted Mark.

"Be cool, boy; everything depends on coolness now. I'm going there."

In two minutes the captain and second-mate were out on deck, and Mark
caught a glimpse of a pistol in his father's breast, and saw him slip
two into the officers' hands.

"Gregory, Morgan," he said, "you stop with the men. You, Gregory, with
the watch; you, Morgan, keep guard over the forecastle hatch."

"Ay, ay, sir."

The next minute the captain was below, Mark following him, and he heard
him utter a deep sigh, almost a groan.

"Is it fire, father?" whispered Mark.

"Yes, my lad, somewhere down in the hold. Heaven help us! we are in a
sore strait now. Who first noticed the fire?"

"It was Bruff, father; he is howling now."

"Poor dog! he must not be burned to death. Go and try and find him; but
if you find there is any smoke or strange smelling vapour, come back at
once."

"Yes, father."

"No, stop; I'll go with you. Where is the dog?"

"Somewhere below."

"Then he must wait. I have the ship and people to try and save."

"Then let me go, father."

"Well, go, my boy, and Heaven be with you."

The necessity for risking his life was put aside, for there was a
scuffling of feet over the deck, and the dog came up whining and then
tried to go back. Mark called to him, but it was of no use, and he
rushed back a little way, barking now fiercely.

"I can't let him go," said Mark hoarsely, and he dashed after the dog;
but before he had gone a dozen yards he kicked against something soft,
and fell down, but only to scramble up again, for the mystery of the
dog's behaviour was explained. His companion the monkey was half
overcome by the vapour arising from the fire in the hold, and had
crawled, it seemed, part of the way toward the hatch and then sank down,
the dog refusing to leave him till he heard voices.

Mark dragged the poor, half inanimate animal to the hatch and carried
him on deck, Bruff barking loudly till they were on deck, where a scene
of excitement was rapidly growing.

"Silence!" the captain roared as Mark reached his side. "No man is to
go near a b