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In a few words all was explained by Krantz: there was a strong smell of fire proceeding from the main-hold; and, on removing one of the hatches, which he had done without calling for any assistance, from a knowledge of the panic it would create, he found that the hold was full of smoke; he had put it on again immediately, and had only made it known to Philip and the captain.
But a rich purple tide soon settled the question, and the lieutenant assigned to taste it, with a loud and satisfactory smack of his lips, pronounced it Port! "Oporto!" cried Mad Jack, "and no mistake!" But, to the surprise, grief, and consternation of the sailors, an order now came from the quarter-deck to strike the "strangers down into the main-hold!"
The niggers came off to us in their canoes by hundreds, but they only laughed when we showed them beads and calico and hatchets and talked of the delights of plantation work in Samoa. "On the fourth day there came a change. Fifty-odd boys signed on and were billeted in the main-hold, with the freedom of the deck, of course.
Velo took a quick glance along the deck. None of the Solomon Islanders were visible, they all having taken up their quarters in the main-hold on top of the cases of pearl shell, where they had spread their rough mats of coconut leaf. Two of the hatches were off, and Veto looking down at the savages saw that they were sitting or lying about smoking or chewing their inevitable betel-nut.
"Thanks for your presence of mind," replied Philip; "we have now time to reflect quietly on what is to be done. If the troops and the poor women and children knew their danger, their alarm would have much impeded us: but how could she have taken fire in the main-hold?" "I never heard of the Vrow Katerina taking fire before," observed the captain; "I think it is impossible.
Philip's address had the most beneficial effects; the men rose up when he ordered them; one portion went down to the magazine, and handed up the powder, which was passed along and thrown overboard; another went to the pumps; and Krantz, coming up, reported the hole to have been cut in the planking of the deck above the main-hold: the hoses were fixed, and a quantity of water soon poured down, but it was impossible that the danger could be kept secret.
"My lads," said Philip, "I am sorry to say that we have reason to suspect that there is some danger of fire in the main-hold." "I smell it!" cried one of the seamen. "So do I," cried several others, with every show of alarm, and moving away as if to go below. "Silence, and remain where you are, my men.
"My lads," said Philip, "I am sorry to say that we have reason to suspect that there is some danger of fire in the main-hold." "I smell it!" cried one of the seamen. "So do I," cried several others, with every show of alarm, and moving away as if to go below. "Silence, and remain where you are, my men.
"On fire!" exclaimed Vanderdecken, jumping out of his berth "where?" "The main-hold." "I will up immediately, Krantz. In the mean time, keep the hatches on and rig the pumps." In less than a minute Philip was on deck, where he found Captain Barentz, who had also been informed of the case by the second mate.
He was busy superintending a gang of dock labourers in their task of hoisting up in the air a number of large crates and heavy deal packing- cases from the jetty alongside, where they were piled up promiscuously in a big heap of a thousand or so and more, and then, when the crane on which these items of cargo were thus elevated had been swung round until right over the open hatchway, giving entrance to the main-hold of the ship, they were lowered down below as quickly as the tackle could be eased off and the suspending chain rattle through the wheel-block above.
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