Captain Dresser had hastened forwards to the forecastle of the ill-fated vessel to see with his own eyes what had happened as soon as the steamer struck, being immediately followed by Dick and Bob, who left Nellie clinging to her aunt in great consternation. As for the skipper of the poor steamer, he seemed to have lost his head completely, for he was shouting out orders one moment from the bridge and contradicting them the next: while the crew were rushing about the decks aimlessly, one going here and another there, without apparent end or purpose, every one looking bewildered from the want of proper leadership. "Keep calm, ladies!" the skipper sang out at intervals between his orders to the seamen and firemen, whom the incessant sounding of the engine-room gong had brought up from below. "Keep cool; there's no danger, I tell you!" He himself, however, appeared so perturbed, that his assurances increased, instead of lessened, the panic amongst the passengers, who huddled together in groups like startled sheep; and Nell clasped her aunt's hand tightly, the two awaiting in great anxiety Captain Dresser's return from his inspection of the vessel forwards. They were not long kept in suspense. After a brief interview, which seemed an eternity, the old sailor re- appeared aft. His face looked very grave. "I'm sorry for the old _Bembridge Belle_" he said in a low tone to Mrs Gilmour, so as not to be overheard by the other passengers standing near. "The poor thing has a large hole knocked through her fore compartment, and is filling with water fast!" CHAPTER FIFTEEN. THE "GOOD SARAH'S" FORGET-ME-NOTS. "Tell me, is there any danger?" asked Mrs Gilmour, speaking quite calmly, in spite of her fears; for, although of a somewhat hasty disposition and apt to be put out at trifles, she was possessed of a strong, natural courage, which, as is the case with most of the so- called "tender sex," only displayed itself in great emergencies. "You may disclose the worst. I can bear it!" "Pooh!" grunted the Captain off-hand, rather impolitely. "There's no `worst' to tell, ma'am. All on board are quite safe, and will be put ashore securely as soon as the boats come off. My fears are for the unfortunate vessel, the loss of which will be a sad blow to her skipper, poor fellow, as he has staked his all in her!" "But, Captain," she rejoined, "why do you look so serious?" "Serious?" he repeated after her, the hard lines in his face at once relaxing--"so would you, too, look serious, ma'am, if you thought of the matter in the same light. You see, I can't help looking upon a ship as a sort of living creature; and to think of a fine boat like this coming to grief in such a lubberly fashion is enough almost to make one cry!" His eyes blinked furiously as he said this, the bushy eyebrows above moving up and down; and, taking out his bright bandana handkerchief, he blew his nose with vigour, as if to give vent to his emotion,