Page:Cruise of the Dry Dock.djvu/171

 “Tropical seas grow very luminous when disturbed... a school of dolphins or sharks on the other side the schooner might——”

“This must be a reg'lar fire!” cried Mulcher. “Nothin' but a furnace in th' hold——”

“W'y don't hit smoke?”

“'Ow do I know?”

“Hit ain't a fire!”

“W'ot is hit?”

“Phosphescence, didn't you 'ear Mister Madden say!”

“Will hit sink 'er?”

Deschaillon gave a sharp laugh. “What sauvages!”

By this time it became clear to everyone that it was not a fire. As the weird illumination continued its fantastic gambols, little points of light began moving about the deck.

Just then Caradoc's grave voice hazarded: “That must be an extraordinary display of St. Elmo's fire. I should say a storm was brewing.”

“Would St. Elmo's fire 'urt th' vessel, sir?” asked a cockney.

“Not at all,” replied the Englishman.

As Leonard stared a queer thought came into