l. There was scarcely any wind, and
the smoke, which had constantly grown thicker and blacker, even with the
efforts made to subdue the flames, arose in a straight pillar of cloud.

"There is no danger!" began the captain, and there were a few murmurs at
these rather trite words under the circumstances.

"I mean just what I say!" went on the commander, and there was no
mistaking his sincerity. "There is no danger--at present," he continued.
"There is a slight fire among the cargo in one of the small forward
holds. But it is cut off from the rest of the ship by fire-proof doors,
and we are flooding that compartment. The fire will be out shortly, I
expect.

"So there is absolutely no need of taking to the boats. Later on, if
there should be, I will give you ample warning, and I might add that we
carry a sufficient complement of boats and life rafts to accommodate all.
And should we take to the boats, the weather is in our favor. So you see
you should not worry."

"But suppose we have to take to the boats at night?" asked Mr. Sneed, who
seemed to have the faculty for hitting on the most unhappy aspect of any
situation.

"The fire cannot possibly get beyond control before morning, even if it
is not put out," the captain replied. "So there will be no need of boats
in the night. Even if there were, we have powerful searchlights, and each
boat carries her own storage battery lighting plant. Now, please be
reasonable."

His words had a calming effect, and those who had rushed up to take to
the boats now began to disperse.

Russ, who had come on deck with Mr. DeVere, was seen talking to Mr.
Pertell. As the two advanced toward Ruth and Alice the girls heard Russ
saying:

"I'm going to make moving pictures of the fire scenes."

"A good idea!" commented Mr. Pertell. "If the captain will let you."

"I'll ask him."

Captain Falcon, after a moment of consideration, agreed that the young
operator might take views showing the fire-fighters at work.

"I wish I had had it going when they made that rush for the boat,
though," Russ said.

"I am glad you did not," returned the captain, gravely. "I would not have
an audience see what cowards some of my men were to so far forget
themselves. That is better forgotten. Doubtless they were mad with fear.
But I am glad you did not get that picture."

Russ, however, might be pardoned for still wishing he had it, for he had
the true instinct of a moving picture operator--he wanted t