"We can call one soon enough," said Paul. "They'll start the wireless if
they have to."

Mr. DeVere came hurrying up, his eyes searching about for his daughters.
A look of relief came over his face as he saw them.

"You had better go below, and get what things you can save while there
is time," he said, hoarsely. "We may have to take to the boats any
minute."

"Listen, the captain is going to say something," warned Paul.

Nearly all the passengers were now gathered on deck, as were most of the
sailors, but the latter were engaged in fighting the fire through the
forward hatchway. Those who were not needed at that particular place were
at the other fire stations, in readiness for any emergency.

The _Tarsus_ now lay motionless on the ocean, rolling to and fro slowly
under the influence of a gentle swell. There was scarcely any wind, and
the smoke, which had constantly grown thicker and blacker, even with the
efforts made to subdue the flames, arose in a straight pillar of cloud.

"There is no danger!" began the captain, and there were a few murmurs at
these rather trite words under the circumstances.

"I mean just what I say!" went on the commander, and there was no
mistaking his sincerity. "There is no danger--at present," he continued.
"There is a slight fire among the cargo in one of the small forward
holds. But it is cut off from the rest of the ship by fire-proof doors,