“What do you mean?”
“I heard a fireman say that the coal we took on at ’Frisco was damp when it was loaded. It has been rolled about now for three days in this storm, setting up a lot of friction.”
“Yes.”
“Well, that odor of coal gas may mean spontaneous combustion.”
“That’s too deep for me. Sponbustible what?”
“In other words, fire!”
“Fire!”
Herc’s face blanched. There is no more terrible word at sea, and no wonder Ned had hesitated to voice his suspicions before. On an ordinary ship it is bad enough, but on a floating arsenal of high explosives, such as is the modern fighting ship, it has an added terror.
“Gracious, Ned! Don’t, for goodness sake, say a word of this! You’ll have the whole ship in a scare.”
“That is just why I don’t mean to say anything till I’m sure. I’ve noticed that the odor is strongest by those port ventilating pipes yonder. I’m going over to investigate again. Want to join me?”