Part 24 (2/2)

”Well, then,” said Captain Turner, ”you've got a little excitement due to you for your prompt action last night in the case of the a.s.sault on that diamond merchant. If you want to go on the boats to the _Oriana_, you may do so. Get Thurman to stand by the wireless while you're gone.

You can make the time up to him on some other occasion.”

Jack's eyes danced. He could hardly express his thanks at the opportunity for a break in the rather monotonous life on s.h.i.+pboard. But the captain had turned on his heel as he finished his speech and left the grateful lad alone.

Thurman was sleeping when Jack roused him. When he learned that Jack was to make one of the boat parties and that he (Thurman) was to remain on duty, the second wireless man's temper flared up.

”That's a fine thing, I must say,” he growled. ”You're to go on a junket while I do your work. I won't stand for it.”

”Pshaw, Thurman,” said Jack pacifically. ”I'll do the same for you at any time you say. Besides, I heard you say once you wouldn't like to go in the small boats.”

”Think I'm afraid, eh?”

”I said no such thing,” retorted Jack, ”I----”

”I don't care, you thought it. I'll complain to Captain Turner.”

”I would not advise you to.”

”Keep your advice to yourself. I've got pull enough to have you fired.”

”This line treats its employees too fairly for any such claim as a 'pull' to be advanced.”

”You think so, eh? Well, I'll show you. You've been acting like a swelled head all the way over, Ready,” said Thurman, forgetting all bounds in his anger. ”I'll find a way to fix you----”

”Say, you talk like an angry kid who's been put out of a ball game,”

said Jack. ”I hope you get over it by the time you come on duty.”

An angry snarl was Thurman's only rejoinder as Jack left the wireless operator's sleeping quarters. But the next instant all thought of Thurman was put out of his mind. The lookout had reported from the crow's-nest. On the far horizon a mighty cloud of dark smoke was rising and spreading.

Before many moments had pa.s.sed it was known that fire--that greatest of sea perils--had been added to the sinking _Oriana's_ troubles.

As the news spread through the s.h.i.+p the pa.s.sengers thronged to the rails. Suppressed excitement ran wild among them. Even Jack found himself unable to stay still as he thought of the lives in peril under that far-off smoke pall. All communication with the stricken s.h.i.+p had ceased, and Jack knew that things must have reached a crisis for her crew.

Then came an order to cast loose four boats, two on the port and two on the starboard side. Officers and men obeyed with a will. By the time they were ready to be dropped overside, the outlines of the burning steamer were plainly visible. She looked very low in the water. From her mids.h.i.+ps section smoke, in immense black clouds, was pouring.

But to Jack's surprise no boats surrounded her, as he had expected would be the case. Instead, on her stern, an old-fas.h.i.+oned, high-raised one, he could make out, through his gla.s.ses, a huddled ma.s.s of human figures.

Suddenly one figure detached itself from the rest and Jack saw a pistol raised and aimed at the lower deck. Spurts of smoke from the weapon followed. Thrilled, Jack was about to report what he had seen to the bridge when the third officer, a young man named Billings, came up to him.

”You're in my boat,” he said. ”Cut along.”

CHAPTER XXVII.

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