Curtis has confided the result to me.

He says that Huntly, the captain, is completely demoralized; he has lost all power and energy; and practically leaves the command of the ship to him.
It is now certain the fire is beyond control, and that sooner or later it will burst out in full violence The temperature of the crew's quarters has already become almost unbearable.

One solitary hope remained; it is that we may reach the shore before the final catastrophe occurs.

The Lesser Antilles are the nearest land; and although they are some five or six hundred miles away, if the wind remains north-east there is yet a chance of reaching them in time.
Carrying royals and studding-sails, the "Chancellor" during the last four-and-twenty hours has held a steady course.

M.Letourneur is the only one of all the passengers who has remarked the change of tack; Curtis however, has set all speculation on his part to rest by telling him that he wanted to get ahead of the wind, and that he was tacking to the west to catch a favourable current.
To-day, the 21st, all has gone on as usual; and as far as the observation of the passengers has reached, the ordinary routine has been undisturbed.