Suddenly there was a blinding flash and a ripping, tearing sound accompanied by the smell of burnt wood. So severe had been the blaze of light that every one was temporarily blinded by it and for a few seconds everything looked red. A moment later, however, when the crew had recovered somewhat from the shock a great shouting and running to and fro began.

"We're hit," cried Grant, the first to regain his senses.

"The ship's on fire," shouted Fred excitedly.

As he spoke a few red tongues of flame appeared from the hatch. Orders were instantly given and a brigade to fight the fire was formed almost at once. It was difficult work, however, for the night was so dark that it was nearly impossible to see one's way around the deck. The flashes of lightning were about the only help afforded to the emergency firemen.

The four young friends were among the first to join in this work.

Buckets were pa.s.sed from hand to hand and the men worked feverishly. No one shirked for an instant and in fact no one dared to do so, for without their ship the men were nearly helpless, left to the mercy of the ocean.

"The wind's coming up," exclaimed Grant suddenly.

What he said was true. It was also raining hard once more, though the thunder and lightning had somewhat abated.

"The wind means our finish," said Fred grimly. "We'll never stop this fire now."

"We must," cried John doggedly. "We're lost if we don't."

Every one redoubled his efforts but the fire gained steadily. Higher and higher leaped the flames and farther and farther astern they crept. The crew worked like demons but their task was hopeless. The fire was too mighty for them and it was soon evident to every one on board that the _Josephine_ was a doomed ship.

CHAPTER VI

ADRIFT

Captain Dodge stood near by urging on his men. Nor did he shirk any of the work himself. He fought the flames with all the fury of a determined man, but it soon became plain that it was an unequal struggle and that the _Josephine_ would never reach Buenos Aires or any other port for that matter.

"Man the boats!" shouted the captain.

The lifeboats were loosened on the davits and made ready to launch. A stock of provisions was placed on board of every one of them and preparations were made to embark. The four Go Ahead boys were a.s.signed to one boat, together with Sam the cook and Petersen the Finn sailor.

"That'll never do," said John in a low voice to Grant. "Sam and Petersen in the same boat are bound to have trouble."

"I'm afraid so myself, String," said Grant, "but what can we do? Captain Dodge gave the orders and we must do as he says."

"Wouldn't he change them?"

"He might, of course, but I'm not going to ask him to."

"No," said John ruefully, "I don't suppose we could do that. I guess we'll have to put up with it."

The wind had been steadily increasing in violence since the fire started and now was blowing almost a gale. It whipped the waves into foam and whistled and shrieked through the rigging. The fire, fanned by the breeze, now roared menacingly while its volume increased steadily. It was only too evident that it would be impossible to remain on board the _Josephine_ many moments more.

"We'd better get away from here," said Fred nervously, as he watched the ma.s.s of flame and smoke which now enveloped the whole forward part of the ship.

"When we do leave we won't be much better off," said Pop gloomily.

"Just the same I'd rather take my chances with the ocean than with this fire," exclaimed Grant.

"Where are we going!" demanded John.

"How do I know!" said Grant. "We must leave, that's sure. What we are to do after we leave is another matter."

"Stand by to lower away!" came the order.

The four boys sprang to their positions. Petersen and Sam joined them a moment later. The negro cook was half-crazed with fear and still kept mumbling to himself, "Dat Finn, dat Finn." Undoubtedly he did not understand that Petersen was to go on the same boat with him or he would not have consented to step aboard. Now, in the darkness it was almost impossible to recognize anybody and Sam probably had no idea who any of his companions were to be.

"Lower away."

The boats descended rapidly and soon rested upon the water where they danced and bobbed about like corks on the angry waves.

"Get aboard, Sam," urged Grant.

Making no objection, the negro quickly lowered himself into the waiting boat. Fred, John, Grant and George followed in order, leaving only Petersen on board the brig. He stood with the painter in his hand, awaiting the word to leave.

"Unship your oars," he called.

"All right," answered Grant.

There were two pairs of oars in the boat and every one of the four boys took charge of one of them. Sam cowered in the bow of the boat shuddering and still murmuring over and over again, "Dat Finn, dat Finn."

At the sound of Petersen's voice from the deck above, however, he half raised himself. "Who dat talkin'?" he demanded.

"One of the sailors," said Grant carelessly, knowing what was pa.s.sing in the black man's mind.

"Dat Petersen," said Sam. "Am he comin' on dis heah boat?"

"I don't know," Grant answered evasively.

"He bettah not. He bettah not," said Sam fiercely. "We's had enough hard luck on account ob dat man already."

"It wasn't his fault," said Grant trying to quiet the excited negro.

"It was! It was!" Sam fairly shouted, at the same time trying to stand up in the skiff.

"Sit down, Sam," ordered Fred sharply.

"Ah won't sit down," the cook cried menacingly. "Ah won't do nothin' if dat Finn am gwine git in dis heah boat. Ah tells yo' all we's had enough hard luck on account of dat man."

"You'll sit down or get out of the boat," said Grant threateningly. "We won't take any fooling here either."

Sam subsided, but he still mumbled to himself incessantly.

"All right, get aboard," John called to Petersen, though he took care not to call him by name.

Petersen threw the painter and jumped into the stern of the life-boat.