The rescue was now in full swing, and, in a short time all the
passengers and crew had been transferred to the life boats. Tom
got a good picture of the captain of the burning steamer being
the last to leave his vessel. Then the approaching life boats,
with their loads of sailors, and rescued ones, were caught on the
films.

"Are you all off?" cried the captain of the Belchar to the
unfortunate skipper of the doomed ship.

"All off, yes, thank you. It is a mercy you were at hand. I
have a cargo of oil. You had better stand off, for she'll explode
in a few minutes."

"I must get a picture of that!" declared Tom as the Belchar got
under way again. "That will cap the climax, and make a film that
will be hard to beat."

A few moments later there was a tremendous explosion on the
tramp oiler. A column of wreckage and black smoke shot skyward,
and Tom secured a fine view of it. Then the wreck disappeared
beneath the waves, while the rescuing steamer sailed on, with
those who had been saved. They had brought off only the things
they wore, for the fire had occurred suddenly, and spread
rapidly. Kind persons aboard the Belchar looked after the
unfortunates. Luckily there was not a large passenger list on the
tramp. And the crew was comparatively small, so it was not hard
work to make room for them, or take care of them, aboard the
Belchar.