leaped up to attack us again.

We all made a rush for the pump and hose, for the smell of burning was
stronger as we reached the steaming hold, I being first. But I felt
puzzled, for the steam was dense as ever, and I could only smell the
dank, unpleasant, hydrogenous odour of decomposed water, while the smell
which had reached the companion-way had been the fresh, sharp, pungent
scent of burning wood. The next moment, though, I saw where the danger
was, and shouted--

"The galley--the galley!"

We all ran round to the door, for smoke was issuing from the wooden
building freely, and a dull light shone out on to the darkness. Then I
burst out in astonishment--

"What, Dumlow! You here?"

"Ay, ay, sir. Practysing up. I got it now, and go ahead to-morrow
morning. Stove bothered me a bit at first, but I can work her, and
there'll be hot water and coffee for braxfast in the morning, and soup
and taters for dinner. Cooking's easy enough when you knows how."

There was a roar of laughter at this.

"Ah, you may laugh, all on you, I don't keer. This won't hurt my leg,
will it, doctor?"

"No; you can go on with that," replied Mr Frewen; "but keep seated all
you can."

"Toe be sure, sir. I've often seen the cook sitting down to peel the
taters and stir the soup."

"Well, let that fire out now, and get some rest," said Mr Brymer. "You
startled us all."

Then leading the way back to the saloon, he told Miss Denning that we
should all gladly accept her brother's offer; and it having been
arranged that a whistle should give the signal of danger, the poor
fellow was carried up on the poop-deck, and left there with his sister,
a final look given at the steaming hold, and then the men went forward,
and we to our cabins, I choosing for mine the one occupied by Walters,
to whom I talked for a few minutes, and then in an instant I was asleep.

CHAPTER FORTY SIX.

I said in an instant, for I was talking to Walters one moment, and the
next I was fighting the fire over again, and seeing now all kinds of
horrible glowing-eyed serpents and dragons, which kept on raising their
heads and breathing out flames. And as they reared their heads, they
glared at me with their glowing eyeballs, and lifted themselves higher,
to try and lick with their fiery tongues the woodwork of the ship.

It was all wonderfully plain, and the worry and trouble were terrible.
I held the nozzle, of the hose, and knew that unless I drove t