I knew was a lie.

"'Have you sent them both down?' asked Captain
Bogart.

"'No, sir; only one,' I said--and I hadn't.

"Just then a steward stepped up with a bundle
of clothing in his hand.

"'I tried to get her out, but she'd locked herself
in the stateroom, sir. It was all afire when I
come up.'

"It took about two seconds for Captain Bogart
to jump clear of the crowd, run half the length of the
deck and plunge through the door leadin' to the main
deck, the dog boundin' after him.

"I've been through a good many anxious minutes
in my life, but those were the worst I'd had up to
date. He and I had been pretty close ever since I
went to sea. He's ten years older than I am, but he
gave me my first chance. Yes; that kind of thing
takes the heart out of you, and they were both in it.
Hadn't been for the dog we wouldn't have missed her,
maybe, although the captain was keeping tally of the
passengers and crew.

"Three minutes, they said it was--more like three