"That's rather odd," remarked Ned. "I never knew them to take
so much interest in a passing steamer before; and we've gone by
several of late."

"That's right," agreed Tom. "I wonder--"

At that moment the officer, looking up, called out:

"Main top!"

"Aye, aye, sir," answered the sailor with the glass. "She's a
small steamer, sir, and she's on fire!"

"That's what I feared. Come down. I'll tell the captain. We
must crowd on all steam, and go to the rescue."

"Did you hear that?" cried Ned to Tom, as the officer hurried
to the bridge, where the captain awaited him. "A steamer on fire
at sea, Tom! why don't you--"

"I'm going to!" interrupted the young inventor, as he started
for his cabin on the run. "I'm going to get some moving pictures
of the rescue! That will be a film worth having."

A moment later the Belchar, the vessel on which our friends had
embarked, increased her speed, while sudden excitement developed
on board.

As the Belchar approached the burning steamer, which had
evidently seen her, and was making all speed toward her, the