CHAPTER XIX.
THE LIFE-RAFT.
When we came out on deck, we saw in a moment that the fire was thought to be a serious affair.

Men were actually at work at the boats, which hung from their davits on each side of the deck, not far from the stern.
They were getting them ready to be lowered.

I must confess that this seemed frightful to me.

Was there really need of it?
I left our party and ran forward for a moment, to see for myself how matters were going.

People were hard at work.