"Are you sure it is only fire—drill?" asked Alice.
"Why, that's what a sailor told me," answered Paul, slowly.
"Look," said Alice, and she pointed to the curling smoke.
More clanging bells resounded, and more lines of hose were run out. There was no doubt, now, that the Tarsus was making a complete turn.
Then, as the captain and one officer left the bridge there rang out the cry:
"Fire! Fire! The ship's on fire! Lower the boats!"
CHAPTER V
DISABLED
Panics start so easily, especially at the mere mention of the word "fire," that it is no wonder there was at once an incipient one aboard the Tarsus. But the captain, who was a veteran, acted promptly and efficiently.