"Well, we shall be obliged to have that dog shot." This quieted the men, who were advancing, and they went back to their places, while Mr Gregory walked Mark slowly by him to the cabin-door.
"Are you sure you smelt fire ?" he whispered.
"Yes, sir, and there is smoke coming out from between those lower hatches." "If I go down to make sure the men will take alarm and there may be a rush," said the mate coolly.

"Here, go and rouse up Morgan quietly.
Don't say what's wrong.

I want him." "And my father ?" panted Mark.
"Be cool, boy; everything depends on coolness now.

I'm going there." In two minutes the captain and second-mate were out on deck, and Mark caught a glimpse of a pistol in his father's breast, and saw him slip two into the officers' hands.
"Gregory, Morgan," he said, "you stop with the men.

You, Gregory, with the watch; you, Morgan, keep guard over the forecastle hatch." "Ay, ay, sir." The next minute the captain was below, Mark following him, and he heard him utter a deep sigh, almost a groan.
"Is it fire, father ?" whispered Mark.
"Yes, my lad, somewhere down in the hold.