Go down on your hands and knees as soon as we are below, and you will not feel the smoke." The mate disappeared down the main hatch, and the men stood panting to begin, buckets filled, the hose distended, and one of the sailors holding his thumb tightly over the hole in the branch.
As the men went down the captain drew a long breath, for he realised how difficult it would be to apply the water effectively.

The lower deck was growing more dense with smoke moment by moment, and the men who were to direct the water upon the flames would be compelled to stand below in that stifling heat.
It was an awful time, and every soul there realised the horror of the position--a hundred miles from the nearest land, the vessel all of wood and laden with a fairly inflammable cargo, which must be well alight by now to judge from the tremendous fume.
The captain's manner and his orders, however, gave some confidence to the men, who, as they waited, saw one boat lowered and heard it kiss the water, while directly after preparations were being made for the lowering of another.
"That's right," said the captain cheerily.

"We have plenty of boats, so there is nothing to fear.

Now, Mr Gregory, how is it below ?" There was a faint reply, evidently from a distance, and then a rush was heard, and the two men came up blinded, choking, and coughing violently.
"Where's Mr Gregory ?" cried the captain.
"Here!" was the reply, and the first-mate's head appeared above the coamings of the hatchway.
"Well ?" "I can make out nothing, sir," said the mate, setting down his lantern, "only that the smoke is rising all over." "Can't you localise the place ?" "No." "Up with the hatches, then, and let's have the water in," cried the captain.

"You take the deck now, and I'll go down.