"I hope you are insured, Captain," said Dick.
"I am—but a fire is always a loss, anyhow."
"That is true."
The boys and the men continued their labors, and inside of half an hour the fire was under control. Some of the men went below to make an examination.
"It's mostly around the boilers," said the engineer. "It's a great mess."
The hands of the Thistle continued to labor and in a short while the last spark of fire was put out. Then a tug was telephoned for to tow the vessel down the river to the town.
In the meanwhile Dick and Tom rejoined their brother and the girls. The students from Hope, with their teacher, had been invited to make themselves at home in the reception rooms of the college, and word of the disaster to the Thistle had been telephoned to the seminary. Word was also sent to the town, and a large number of persons came out to learn the extent of the disaster.
"The newspapers will make a spread of this," was Tom's comment. "We'd better send word home that everybody is safe."
"Yes, do!" cried Nellie. "Mamma will be so worried when she hears about it."
"Yes, we must send word at once," added
