Tell him I think the pumps had better be rigged, and the hose passed down." Fairclough, who was accompanied by Harry, joined him just as he was about to descend the ladder.
"I will go down with you, Mr.Hardy," he said.
"Mr.Eden, will you go up and send down all hands, except those at the wheel?
Set a strong gang to rig the pumps, and pass the hose down." He and the lieutenant then made their way along the hold.

The smoke was very thick, and it was only by stooping low that they could get along.

They could see, however, a glow of light ahead.
"We can do nothing with this," the captain said, "beyond trying to keep it from spreading, until we have shifted all these stores.

The gang with buckets had better come down, empty them on the pile, and then set to work to clear the stuff away, as quickly as possible." The men, who came along gradually and with difficulty, began to remove the barrels, coils of rope, and spare sails stowed there.
Several of them were overpowered by the smoke, and had to be carried up again; and others came down and took their places.
In three or four minutes the hose was passed down, and the clank of the pumps could be heard.

Mr.Hardy took the nozzle and while the men, now a strong party, worked at the stores, directed a stream of water upon the flames.
For a time, the efforts seemed to make no impression, and the steam added to the difficulty of working.