hem back
with a strong jet of water they would destroy the ship at once; but the
tube was empty, the pump did not clank, and the hissing creatures rose
higher and higher, till they were about to scorch me, when I started
into wakefulness, and found that I was lying on my back, bathed in
perspiration, and all was perfectly still.

I soon changed my position, and dropped off to sleep again--a calm,
restful sleep for a time; but the old trouble returned: there I was
standing at the edge of that great steaming gap in the deck, with the
fiery serpents darting here and there and dancing up and down. Then
they began to make darts at the woodwork, and one greater than all the
rest reared itself up to try and reach the main-mast, but sank back
again. Then it reared itself up and tried once more, this time reaching
higher and higher, till it disappeared in the grey smoke; and directly
after I saw that it had reached the mast, and was creeping up it, in one
long undulating streak of golden and ruddy fire, which would soon reach
the mast-head, if I did not drive it down with the jet of water.

I raised the copper branch, and directed it straight at the fiery
monster, but the pump still did not clank, and no water flowed. Instead
thereof came a jet of steam--not the visible grey vapour which is really
the water in tiny vesicles, but a jet of invisible steam which rushed
out of the breach with a shrill whistling sound, and again I awoke with
a start to fancy that I was yet dreaming, for the sharp whistling still
rang in my ears.

Then I knew what it was--the signal of danger given by Mr Denning or
his sister, and, hurrying out of the cabin, I crossed the saloon, and
ran out and upon deck to where they were.

"A boat?--the mutineers?" I panted.

"No," said Miss Denning, excitedly. "The fire has broken out again!"

At the same moment I found that the alarm had been heard forward, for
the men were tumbling up from the forecastle, and Bob Hampton's voice
thundered out--

"Ahoy, there! man the pumps. She's going it again."

For, on reaching the gap in the deck where the hissing had recommenced,
the steam which we had left steadily rising when we went to lie down,
then looking of a blackish grey, now appeared luminous, as if some great
light were playing about beyond it.

Knowing where the copper branch had been made ready, I made for it at
once; but as I picked it up, it was snatched from my hands by some one,
whom I coul