He was awakened perhaps two hours later by a wild commotion on deck.
In the twinkling of an eye he dropped from the sail and gazed about him.
A heavy smoke completely blinded him for a moment, and then he knew what was the matter.
The ship was on fire!
Even as this fact occurred to him, a bright column of flame leaped from the forward hatch, and the tarred rigging catching fire, it seemed as if a hundred writhing, fiery serpents were shooting skyward.
Under the supervision of the captain and mates the sailors were trying manfully to subdue the flames, and Van rushed forward and joined them.
But the fire kept on increasing, and at the end of fifteen minutes the captain saw it was useless to attempt to save the ship.
Reluctantly he gave the order to lower the boats, and convey what could be saved of the cargo ashore.
Van ran into the forecastle to get the few things he possessed before the ship was abandoned.
As he reached his bunk a cry of horror escaped his lips.