As the night wore on the decks grew hotter and hotter, until the pitch fairly bubbled from the seams, and a strong smell of burning pervaded the ship.

At daylight the American flag was run half-way up to the mizzen peak, union down, as a signal of distress.

By sunrise the Highlands of Navesink were in sight, and they also saw a pilot-boat bearing rapidly down upon them from the northward.
As soon as he saw this boat Captain May told his passengers that he was going to send them on board of it, as he feared the fire might now break out at any minute, and he was going to ask its captain to run in to Sandy Hook, and send despatches to the revenue-cutter and to the New York fire-boat Havemeyer, begging them to come to his assistance.
Mrs.Coburn and Ruth readily agreed to this plan, but Mark begged so hard to be allowed to stay, and said he should feel so much like a coward to leave the ship before any of the other men, that the captain finally consented to allow him to remain.
The ship's headway was checked as the pilot-boat drew near, in order that her yawl, bringing the pilot, might run alongside.
"Halloo, Cap'n Bill," sang out the pilot, who happened to be an old acquaintance of Captain May's.

"What's the meaning of all that ?" and he pointed to the signal of distress.

"Got Yellow Jack aboard, or a mutiny ?" "Neither," answered Captain May, "but I've got a volcano stowed under the hatches, and I'm expecting an eruption every minute." "You don't tell me ?" said the pilot, as he clambered up over the side.
"Ship's afire, is she ?" The state of affairs was quickly explained to him, and he readily consented that his swift little schooner should run in to the Hook and send despatches for help.