He showed his cards and raked in the pot.

With a savage cry, M. Montfort flung his hand aside, leaped to his feet, sprang at Frank, and struck for Merry’s face.

The blow was parried, and he was knocked down instantly.

A sailor, pale and shaking, came dashing into the room and whispered a word in the captain’s ear.

An oath broke from the captain’s lips, and he whirled about and rushed from the room.

Slowly Montfort picked himself up.  There was a livid mark on his cheek.  He glared at Frank with deadly hatred.

“Cursed meddlaire!” he grated.  “You shall pay for this.”

There was consternation outside.  On the deck was heard the sound of running feet.

“Something has happened!” said Diamond, hurrying to the door.  “I wonder what it is.”

The “Eagle” was plunging along through a heavy sea.  On the deck some men were running to and fro.  Everyone seemed in the greatest consternation.

Jack sprang out and stopped a man.

“What is the matter?” he demanded.

“The ship is on fire!” was the shaking answer.  “There is a fire in the hold!”

Diamond staggered.  He whirled about and sprang into the smoking-room.  In a moment he was at Frank’s side.

“Merry,” he said, “what I feared has come!  The steamer is on fire!”

“Where?”

“In the hold.”

Frank remembered the barrels and casks he had seen there.

“Then we are liable to go scooting skyward in a hurry!” he said.  “It can’t take the fire long to reach the petroleum and powder!”

CHAPTER XIV.

Saving an enemy.

In truth, there was a fire in the “Eagle’s” hold.  The captain and the crew seemed perfectly panic-stricken.  The thought of the explosion that might come any moment seemed to rob them of all reason.

Frank Merriwell and his friends rushed out of the smoking-room.

The hold had been opened in an attempt to get water onto the flames.  Smoke was rolling up from the opening.

“Close down the hatch!” shouted somebody.  “It is producing a draft, and that helps the fire along!”

Then faint cries came from the hold—­cries of a human being in danger and distress!

“It’s Harris!” exclaimed Diamond.  “He is down there, and his time has come at last!”

“A rope!” shouted Frank Merriwell, flinging off his coat.

“What are you going to do?” demanded Bruce Browning.

“By heavens!  I am going down there and try to bring Harris out!”

“You’re a fool!” chattered Harry Rattleton.  “Think of the oil and powder down there!  The stuff is liable to explode any moment!  You shall not go!”

Frank saw a coil of rope at a distance.  He rushed for it, brought it to the hold, let an end drop and dangle into the darkness from whence the smoke rolled up.