“Give it up,” said Chap. “But I tell you what it is, boys, this would have been a gorgeous show at night. We could have seen the blaze better then, and the sky and the water would have been lighted up for miles. It would have gone ahead of any fireworks we ever saw.”
“If they had only known you wanted a show,” said Phœnix, “they might have smothered the fire and put off the display till night.”
“Phœnix,” said Chap, “don’t get in the way of making fun of people. It’s sometimes worse than thrashing ’em. But she does look grand, doesn’t she, boys?”
The Thomas Wistar was now approaching quite near, and although she was well out in the river, the boys fancied they could feel the heat from her, for the wind was blowing somewhat in their direction.
When she was nearly opposite to them, they could see her stern, which before had been obscured by the clouds of smoke which rolled in front of her, and it was evident that so far the fire had not extended to that portion of the vessel. The strong wind blew sparks, smoke, and flame all forward.
“Boys,” cried Phil, “let’s row up to her! There may be somebody on board of her!”
“There isn’t anybody on her,” said Chap, “or they’d be on deck.”
“We can go up close and shout,” said Phil. “There might be somebody below. There isn’t any danger if we keep behind the fire. Come along!”
And he jumped into the row-boat.
Without another word the two boys tumbled in after him, and, untying the rope which held them to the scow, Chap seized the oars and rowed out to the burning steamboat.