now began that fearful confusion and
panic which no pen can clearly picture, and which, once seen, can never
be forgotten to the dying day.

Our three friends were gathered at the stern of the steamer, earnestly
and anxiously discussing the best course to pursue.

"Let's stay here," said Howard, "for every second is taking us nearer
land."

"That is what nearly all will do," said Elwood, "but we can never reach
the shore, and when the time comes we shall all be in the sea together,
struggling and sinking, and we shall then be sure to go down."

"Yez are right," said Tim, addressing the last speaker. "Our only chance
is to jump overboard this very minute, before the sea is full of the
poor fellows. They'll begin to go over the ship's side and will kaap it
up until the thing is burned up."

"It's time then that we hunted our life-preservers," said Howard.

"Git out wid yer life-presarvers!" impatiently exclaimed Tim. "Didn't me
uncle wear one of 'em for six months, and then die with the faver! I'll
heave over one of these settaas, and that'll kaap up afloat."

"Be quick about it, Tim," urged Elwood, who was beginning to get
nervous. "See, the fire is spreading, and everybody seems to have found
out what the matter is."

There was indeed no time to be lost. The steamer was doomed beyond all
possibility of salvation, and must soon become unmanageable, when
everything would be turned into a pandemonium. One of the large settees
was wrenched loose and lifted over the stern of the steamer.

"Now," said Tim, "the minute it goes over yez must follow. The owld
staamer is going like a straak of lightning, and if aither of yez wait,
he'll be lift behind."

"All right, no danger, go ahead!"

They now clambered up, and sat poised on the stern. In this fearful
position Tim O'Rooney held the settee balanced for a few minutes.

"Be yez riddy?"

"Yes."

"Do yez jump a little to the right, Elwood, and yez a little to the
left, Howard, so as not to hit the owld thing. All riddy; here we go!"

The next moment the three were spinning down through the air, and struck
the water. They went below the surface, the boys sinking quite a
distance; but almost instantly they arose and struck bravely out.

"Tim, where are you?" called out Elwood, not seeing his friend.

"Here, to the left," responded the Irishman, as he rose on a huge swell.
"Can ye swim to me?"

"I hope so, but my clothes bother me like creation."

Strange! th