Joseph Baldwin sprang from his bed, dashed aside the starboard curtains, and caught a reflection of the glow.
"Fire!" he gasped, turning pale. "Halstead and his comrades surely have enough to handle this time."
Then, with frenzied haste, the owner fell to pulling on his clothes. He, too, broke some of his own records in the matter of dressing. In a very few moments he was outside, and climbing the bridge steps. Then he dashed aft.
The breeze that was blowing was unfavorable to the fire fighters. The factors in their favor, however, were the prompt discovery of the trouble and the thinness with which the gasoline was spread.
The blaze was at its worst in the middle of the after deck. It was the realization of this fact that had caused young Captain Halstead to take the desperate leap and make the bold effort that now stood to his credit.
"That boy has no sense of fear," cried Mr. Baldwin to himself.
As a matter of fact, Halstead had escaped unscorched. His promptness, good judgment, and the protecting streams from the hose had saved him from disastrous consequences that might be expected to follow such a hazardous act.
By now the hosemen were able to get far enough aft to wet down the blazing parts of the wall of the after deck-house.
Within five minutes from the time it started the blaze was brought down to where it required only persistent hosing to drown it completely.