"Let go! Pull hearty!"

These and other commands marked the beginning of the rescue,
as the sailors manned the davit-falls, and put the boats into the
water. The burning steamer had now come to a stop, not far away
from the Belchar, which was also lay-to. There was scarcely any
sea running, and no wind, so that the work of rescuing was not
difficult from an ordinary standpoint. But there was grave
danger, because the fire on the doomed vessel was gaining
rapidly.

"That's oil burning," remarked an officer, and it seemed so,
from the dense clouds of smoke that rolled upward.

"Is she working, Tom?" asked Ned, as he helped his chum to hold
the wonderful camera steady on the rail, so that a good view of
the burning steamer could be had.

"Yes, the film is running. Say, I wonder if they'll get 'em all
off?"

"Oh, I think so. There aren't many passengers. I guess it's a
tramp freighter."

They could look across the gap of water, and see the terrified
passengers and crew crowding to the rail, holding out their hands
appealingly to the brave sailors who were lustily and rapidly,
pulling toward them in life boats.

At times a swirl of smoke would hide those on the doomed vessel