"The sailors are pumping, and the stewards are provisioning the boats."
"Getting ready to abandon the little craft, are they?"
"Father said that was being done in order that we might be prepared for any emergency."
"And he's got a pretty clear idea that the flames can't be kept under, or else there wouldn't be a thought of such a thing. How's the weather?"
"A dead calm, as it was this morning."
Jake remained silent a few moments as if revolving some plan in his mind, and then he said abruptly:
"Neal, if we do have to put off you and Teddy must try to go in the same boat with me."
"Unless father makes different arrangements."
"Of course, of course; but if nothin' is said we'll stick together. Go back an' say that the Sea Dream shall do her best until the water gets above the fire-boxes, an' then my part of the work has been done."
Neal left the engine-room feeling that there was very little chance of reaching any port in the yacht, and since there was no reason why he should hurry on deck, he went around by the way of the galley where Teddy was stationed.