CHAPTER XVIII.

OLIVER’S HEROISM.

It would be useless to deny the fact that Oliver and Gus were thoroughly startled when they heard the cry of fire that came from the deck of the Polly Eliza.

They could easily realize the danger of their situation. Out of sight of land, and in the darkness of night, which way should they turn? What could they do?

“Let us hurry on deck,” cried Oliver. “There is not a moment to spare.”

There was no need to hurry Gus, for that youth was already struggling to get into his clothing. By the time Oliver was ready, Gus was also dressed. As they rushed out and into the cabin, they met Mr. Whyland. He was deadly pale.

“I was just going to call you,” he said. “I was afraid you had not heard the cries.”

“What is the matter?” asked Oliver. “Where is the fire?”

“In the forward hold. It started in some loose waste that ought never to have been allowed there.”

“Is it dangerous?” faltered Gus.

“I hope not; but we cannot tell. It is a hard fire to get at.”

By this time the three were on deck. All was confusion. The pump attached to the engine had been brought into play, and the sailors were pouring the water into the hold as well as they were able.

“Don’t be alarmed,” said Captain Morris, as calmly as he could. “It may be all over in an hour. It is a small fire.”

“But a nasty one, I take it,” put in the purser, who stood near.

“Why don’t the men go below and try to locate the flames?” asked Oliver, as he noted that no one went below decks.

“Sailors have too much horror of fire,” responded Mr. Whyland; “and Captain Morris’s place is here on deck.”

“They might do a good deal more good by going below,” put in Gus.

Meanwhile the fire began to spread towards the stern. All the sailors began to shake their heads, and several said it would be better to spend the time in getting ready to leave the steamer.

“Leave the ship!” exclaimed Captain Morris. “Leave the Polly Eliza! Not much! If I wasn’t so old and asthmatic I’d go down into the hold myself.”

Oliver stood for a moment in meditation.

“Let me go down,” he said suddenly. “If somebody don’t go the ship may burn up and we’ll all go to the bottom. If I can’t do any good I’ll come up at once.”

And without waiting for a reply, Oliver hurried towards the partly closed hatchway.

There was a small step-ladder at hand, and getting the sailors to help him put this down, Oliver took a deep breath and quickly descended into the hold.

“There’s bravery for you!” exclaimed Captain Morris. “I should think this would make some of you feel mighty cheap,” he added to the men.

It was indeed a bold thing to do. The hold was one mass of thick, stifling smoke, and breathing down there was next to impossible.

As soon as Oliver reached the bottom he dropped on his hands and knees. Dragging the nozzle of the hose behind him, he crawled rapidly to the spot where the flames arose.

A minute later and he was right beside the fire. He saw that it was confined to some loose waste, as Mr. Whyland had said, and also to half a dozen bales of cloth stored close at hand.

By the time Oliver had made this discovery his eyes were all but blinded, and his head swam as it never had before.

“I’ll fix this pipe fast so the water will pour right on the fire,” he thought; “then there will be no use in staying.”

After some little difficulty this was done. The effects of the water pouring directly on the flames told at once. But the smoke became thicker than ever, and Oliver hurried to the hatchway.

As soon as he appeared in the opening he was hauled out. He was so weak he could not stand. He sank in a heap on a seat.

“I left the hose pouring water right on the fire,” he gasped. “If somebody will go down you can have the fire out in ten minutes.”

“I will go,” said Mr. Willett. “I will not be outdone by a boy, even though he be as noble as this lad.” And he disappeared down the hatchway.

Anxiously those on deck waited for him to reappear. At the end of five minutes he did so.

“It is about out,” he reported. “The hose has soaked everything, and there is no more danger. The smoke that is coming up doesn’t amount to anything.”

“Thank God it is so!” exclaimed Mr. Whyland; and everybody near echoed the sentiment.

“Our safety is due to this young man,” said Captain Morris, grasping Oliver by the shoulder. “You deserve a medal for your bravery.”

At this Oliver was compelled to blush. But he blushed even more when a cheer, led by Gus, was taken up by all hands.

“I didn’t do so much,” he said.

“You did enough,” rejoined Mr. Whyland. “What more could be wanted than that?”

“I shall never forget the service,” put in the captain heartily; “I don’t know what I would have done had the Polly Eliza been burned. She has been my home for so many years.”

A little later a number of the sailors went below, and under directions from the purser, made a thorough search of the hold. It was thought every spark of fire had been extinguished; but to make doubly sure two of the men were told to remain on guard for the balance of the night and all the next day.

“Then I suppose we might as well go to bed again,” said Gus who, now that the excitement was over, began to feel sleepy.

“Yes; there is no further danger,” returned Captain Morris. “To-morrow I will hold a strict investigation as to the cause of the fire. If I find any of the men are to blame, they shall pay the penalty, I can tell you.”

Mr. Whyland went below, and Oliver followed Gus to their stateroom. Both undressed and turned in, but it was nearly daylight before either of them dropped asleep.

Oliver was the first to awaken. He turned to his friend and found the stout youth tossing and mumbling uneasily to himself.

“Fire! Save me! save me!” mumbled Gus.

Oliver gave him a vigorous shaking, and the stout youth sat up and rubbed his eyes.

“Where――where?” he stammered. “Thank goodness it was only a dream! I thought I was down in the hole, burning up.”

“Well, you were wishing for an adventure and you got one,” laughed Oliver. “Want any more of them?”

“Not just for the present,” replied Gus with a shiver. “Suppose you and the rest hadn’t put out the fire, what then?”

“It would have been bad enough, and no mistake,” replied Oliver.

At the breakfast-table Captain Morris again thanked Oliver for what he had done. He said he had found out that the fire had been caused by friction amongst the cargo, and that no one in particular was to blame.

During the day, the sailors busied themselves in throwing out all the burned matter and in rearranging the cargo, so that a repetition of the affair might not occur.

Oliver and Gus watched the operation for a while, and then turned their attention to the sea where countless sharks loomed up in all directions.

“The water here is generally full of them,” said Mr. Whyland. “I have spent a day or two fishing for them.”

“Fishing for them?” repeated Oliver in surprise.

“Yes.”

“I thought you had to spear them.”

“Oh, no; you can catch them with a hook and line provided both be strong enough.”

“I’d like to try the sport,” said Gus.

“We will do so to-morrow if Captain Morris will lend us a hook and line. He is too busy to be bothered now.”

The answer did not quite suit Gus. Having heard of shark fishing, he was anxious to try it at once. A little later he procured a large hook and a stout line from the purser, and some meat from the cook, and began to fish on his own account.

At this time Oliver was in deep conversation with Mr. Whyland. They were speaking of the Aurora mine, and did not notice what Gus was doing.

Suddenly came a sharp cry for help. Gus had caught a shark and was unable to hold the ugly monster. The two made a dash for the rail; but before they could reach the boy’s side the line tightened, and with a wild cry Gus slid overboard.