"Ay, ay, sir!" cheerfully responded the men,—for the American seaman will go anywhere an officer will lead him.
In the after part of the hold there was a dense smoke and a strong smell of fire.
"Keep back! You are all dead men!" shouted Captain Walmsley, as Somers advanced and discovered the speaker seated on a box.
"What are you doing here?" demanded Somers.
"I am going to blow up the steamer," replied the captain, who held in his hand a tin pan filled with burning oakum, chips, and other combustible material.
"Well, why don't you do it, then?" said Somers.
"For God's sake, Mr. Somers, don't stay here," pleaded Mr. Hudson.
"You needn't, if you are afraid," replied he, coolly.
"Mr. Somers, in one instant I can blow the Ben Nevis all to pieces," said Captain Walmsley, with a proper exhibition of tragic adjuncts.
"Why don't you do it, then?"