mmission revoked because their leader escaped; and
now I am set on fire! What could have possessed that fellow to come back
here? Where has he been? What has he been doing? Where is he now? What
is the prospect, Mr. Jackson?" he added, turning to the second
lieutenant, who at that moment came up, all begrimmed with smoke and
dirt, and drenched with water.

"It is not very flattering, sir," was the reply. "The wind comes strong
down the fore-hatch, and fans the flame."

"Shut the galley, and knock a hole through the door for the hose," said
Harry, promptly. "If the fire continues to gain headway, we must cut
into the deck to give the buckets a chance. What will become of us if we
lose the vessel, Jackson?"

"We're not going to lose her, sir," replied the lieutenant; and Harry
was greatly encouraged to hear him speak so confidently. "She will
capture Tom Newcombe and his band of freebooters for us yet."

Jackson ran off to obey the orders of his superior, and the first
lieutenant stopped the buckets (for, of course they could not be used
when the galley door was closed), and waited impatiently for the next
report. Up to this time he had been so engrossed with his work, that he
could not have told whether he was alone in the harbor or not; but now
he was reminded of the fact that there were vessels all around him, and
found that the Storm King had suddenly become an object of interest to
their crews. A yawl came alongside, and half a dozen men, armed with
axes and buckets, sprang over the rail. They were led by an old,
gray-headed sea captain, who, the moment he touched the deck, demanded
in a voice that could have been heard above the roar of a hurricane:
"Who's master of this craft?"

"I am in command, sir," replied the first lieutenant.

"You!" exclaimed the old sailor, looking first at Harry's uniform, and
then toward the galley, taking in at one swift glance all the
preparations that had been made for putting out the fire. "Well, what
have you done, little marline-spike?"

"I've stopped the draft, and am throwing water on the fire as fast as I
can."

"If you want any help say the word. I've got a boat's crew here. If
you've no objections, I'll just step down and take a squint at things.
Perhaps a few suggestions from an old fellow who has had two vessels
burned under him in mid-ocean wouldn't come amiss."

"O, no, sir," replied Harry, gratefully. "I shall be glad to listen to
your advice. It won't do to let