From time to time Mark had been to his mother, who was trying, with the major's wife, to whisper hope and encouragement to Mary, the poor girl being horrified at the idea of having to leave the ship in an open boat.

But at last there seemed to be no hope to whisper from one to the other.

Men grew more stern as they worked with savage energy; and in spite of the time which had elapsed since the first alarm there had not been a murmur nor a whisper of going to the boats, which floated on either side and astern.
But the captain and the two mates knew that before long there must be a rush of fire up through the great hatch, that the sails would immediately catch, and then the masts and rigging would rapidly be a blaze from stem to stern.
Mark had just returned from one of his visits to the front of the cabin, where the helpless women stood gazing at the dimly-seen crowd about the hatch, going and coming, and blotting out the dim light of the lanterns placed here and there.

He was close to his father as once Mr Gregory came up, blinded with the smoke, and half suffocated.
"I can't hit upon the place," he said angrily.

"We're wasting time, Captain Strong, for the smoke comes up all over, and we have never yet touched its source." "No," said the captain gloomily; "but we must persevere." "Oh, yes, sir, we'll persevere; never fear for that." "If I could only think of what would be likely to light by spontaneous combustion, it might help us." "I can help you to that," said the mate.
"The fire's gaining fast, sir," said Small, the boatswain, coming up; "Mr Morgan says we must have more hands below." A thrill ran through the men, and one of them threw down his bucket.
"It's labour in vain, captain," he said.