in
that seemed to have made its way there from the lazarette, for the
companion-way and the space between the foot of the companion-ladder and
the saloon bulkhead was thick with it. Guessing at once that the fire
was in the lazarette, I threw open the door leading to the hatchway, and
found the latter open, with a cloud of bluish-white smoke issuing from
it, through which I dimly caught the flicker of flames. To drop through
the hatchway was the work of an instant, when I at once saw what was the
matter. A large packing-case that had evidently been nearly full of
straw was all in a blaze, and beside it, with an idiotic, drunken grin
upon his face, stood the steward, unsteadily pointing with wavering
finger to the open lazarette lantern, which could just be descried in
the midst of the blazing mass. In his other hand the fellow held a
filled but unlighted pipe, which, with a tumbler that still contained a
small quantity of wine, and a half-empty bottle of the same generous
stimulant, explained at a glance the whole history of the incident. The
rascal had evidently gone down into the lazarette and helped himself to
a bottle of wine, upon the contents of which he had become so nearly
intoxicated that at length, forgetful or reckless of the extreme danger
of such a proceeding where he was, he had determined to further solace
himself with a smoke, and, opening the lantern in order to light his
pipe at the candle, had dropped it into the packing-case and set its
contents on fire. The fellow was too stupidly drunk even to raise an
alarm, and in another five minutes the whole lazarette would have been
in a blaze. As it happened, however, I arrived upon the scene just in
the nick of time to prevent this by seizing the blazing case and
dragging it and its contents bodily up on deck--at the expense of a pair
of severely scorched hands--and heaving it overboard. I then went below
again, and took an exhaustive look round to assure myself beyond all
question that no smouldering spark had been left behind; and, having
completely satisfied myself upon that point, wound up the affair by
ordering the steward to be put in irons and locked up in the deck-house
forward. We arrived at Sydney next day, and within half an hour of
mooring the ship I paid the man his wages and turned him adrift.

The Desmond party got clear of the ship in time to dine ashore that
evening; and, on the day but one following our arrival, they started
upon