voyage proceeded without incident until the evening of
the third day, when they were sitting at supper in the cabin. The
skylights and port-holes were all wide open, for in spite of the fresh
breeze that was blowing, the cabin was uncomfortably close and hot.
Mark said the further north they went the hotter it seemed to get, and
the others agreed with him. Captain May said that if the breeze held,
and they were lucky in meeting a pilot, they would be at anchor in New
York Harbor before another supper-time, and he hoped the hot spell
would be over before they were obliged to go ashore. While he was
speaking the mate put his head down the companion-way and said,

"Captain May, will you be good enough to step on deck a moment, sir?"

As the captain went on deck he noticed that all the crew were gathered
about the forecastle, and were talking earnestly.

"What's in the wind now, Mr. Gibbs?" he asked of the mate, who at that
moment stepped up to him.

"Why, sir, only this, that I believe the ship's on fire. A few minutes
ago the whole watch below came on deck vowing there was no sleeping in
the fo'k'sle; that it was a reg'lar furnace. I went to see what they
was growling at, and 'twas so hot down there it made my head swim.
There wasn't any flame nor any smoke, but there was a powerful smell of
burning, and I'm afraid there's fire in the cargo."

Without a word Captain May went forward and down into the forecastle,
the men respectfully making way for him to pass. In less than a minute
he came up, bathed in perspiration, and turning to the crew, said, "My
men, there's no doubt but that this ship is on fire. It's in among the
cotton; but if we can keep it smothered a while longer, I think, with
this breeze, we can make our port before it breaks out. I want you to
keep cool and steady, and remember there's no danger, for we can make
land any time in the boats if worse comes to worse. Mr. Gibbs, have the
men get their dunnage up out of the forecastle, and then close the
hatch and batten it."

Going aft, the captain found his passengers on deck waiting anxiously
to learn the cause of the commotion they had already noticed. He told
them the worst at once, and advised them to go below and pack up their
things ready for instant removal in case it became necessary.

"Oh, William," exclaimed his sister, "can't we take to the boats now
while there is time? It seems like tempting Providence to stay on the
ship and wait for the fi