enough," declared a woman.

"But they are not," the commander insisted. "They are only slight
explosions of coal gas in some of the bunkers. The fire is slowly eating
into them but the explosions are not heavy enough to cause any serious
damage to the ship.

"The _Bell_ will soon be up to us. In fact, we could see her now, were it
not for the slight haze. And, as it is evident that you will have to be
taken off in her, I am going to lower the boats, and let you row away
from this ship.

"You will be picked up by the _Bell_ as soon as she gets here, and, in
any event, you would have to take to the small boats. So you might as
well start. I will have all your baggage brought on deck ready for
transfer," he added to the moving picture manager.

"Very good," assented Mr. Pertell. "I am sorry this has occurred, but
perhaps it is best that we leave the ship."

"It will be better for your peace of mind, though really I think we can
conquer the fire," the captain went on. "But we are disabled, and may not
be able to proceed for some time."

"What are you going to do when we are gone?" asked Alice, who, with Ruth,
had recovered some of her equanimity by this time. "Are you coming with
us, Captain Falcon--you and your sailors?"

"I am going to stick by the ship!" he answered, and there was a proud
ring in his voice. "I believe I can save her, and then we'll make
repairs, and get to port under our own steam. I want to save the owners
salvage, if I can."

"There speaks a brave man," murmured Mr. DeVere. "And there are many such
unknown, who are going down the sea in ships every day. A brave man!"

"Man the falls!" ordered Captain Falcon to those sailors who were not
engaged in fighting the fire. "Man the falls, and stand by to lower the
boats!"

"Oh, must we really go in those little things?" cried Miss Pennington, as
she heard this.

"Certainly," answered Russ, who was near her. "You wouldn't expect to
swim; would you?"

"Horrid thing!" snapped the actress. "Come, Laura. Don't leave me. I'm so
frightened!"

"So am I," declared her companion. "It's awful!"

"Their fright hasn't made them pale, at any rate," whispered Alice.
"They've taken on color, lately."

"Oh, my dear, you mustn't say such things," chided Ruth.

The work of getting the passengers and their baggage into the boats was
soon under way. There was some confusion, not a little evidence of fright
on the part of many, and some tears. But among the br