It began to look like a hopeless case, for the water poured in upon the fire seemed to have no appreciable effect. Those who were not at work with the steam pump worked with buckets, and Louis labored as earnestly as any of the hands. The flames were confined to the after part of the steamer, and it was now too hot for any one to remain there. “Stand by your engine, Mr. Waters!” shouted the captain, as he rushed to the bow of the steamer, where he cast off the cable, and let it run overboard. “All right, Captain Brisbane,” replied the engineer, who was on duty at the machine, attending to the steam pump. “I am not sure that the screw will work, for something may have been burned away along the shaft.” “Start her forward!” shouted the captain, as he ran up the ladder to the pilot-house. As soon as he had the wheel in his hands he rang one bell on the gong. The engineer started the machine, and ascertained at once that the screw was still in condition to work. The Phantom, with the flames pouring out abaft the engine-room, went ahead, and the captain headed her for the shore on the north side of the inlet, for that was the nearest land. It was not more than a quarter of a mile distant. The speed bell followed the stroke on the gong a moment later, and the vessel went ahead as rapidly as her low pressure of steam would permit. The steam pump was still at work, and the fires had been replenished by the firemen before they had been driven from their post. Louis judged that Captain Brisbane had given up the battle with the fire, and had no hope of saving her. When the young millionaire found he could be of no further service on the main deck, he joined the captain in the pilot-house. “This is a bad job for me,” said Captain Brisbane, when Louis had taken his place opposite him at the wheel, where he could look through the window at the shore. “The Phantom is insured, but my loss will be large for me.” “I am exceedingly sorry for it, captain,” replied Louis, whose first impulse was to make it good to him; but he was not confident that Uncle Moses would indorse his liberality, and he said nothing about it. “I don’t see how the fire got such a start upon us,” added the captain. “We had a large supply of light wood for kindling the fires abaft the bunkers; but it was a good distance from the furnaces, and the fires were banked.” “Didn’t you see that man in a boat about a quarter of an hour ago?” asked Louis, surprised that the captain had not yet ascertained the origin of the fire. Kimpton had reached the shore and disappeared. Louis had not been able to observe his movements while he was at work on the main deck, and did not know what had become of him. He had had time enough to reach the shore, which was covered with stunted pines and firs, which were sufficient to conceal him from observation.