"At the maximum speed," replied the latter; "the steam is escaping by all the valves."
"Fasten them down," ordered the Captain.
And his orders were executed at the risk of blowing up the ship.
The "Dolphin" again increased her speed; the pistons worked with frightful rapidity; the metal plates on which the engine was placed trembled under the terrific force of their blows. It was a sight to make the boldest shudder.
"More pressure!" cried James Playfair; "put on some pressure!"
"Impossible!" replied the engineer; "the valves are tightly closed; our furnaces are full up to the mouths."
"What difference! Fill them with cotton soaked in spirits; we must pass that frigate at any price."
At these words the most daring of the sailors looked at each other, but did not hesitate. Some bales of cotton were thrown into the engine-room, a barrel of spirits broached over them, and this expensive fuel placed, not without danger, in the red-hot furnaces. The stokers could no longer hear each other speak for the roaring of the flames. Soon the metal plates of the furnaces became red-hot; the pistons worked like the pistons of a locomotive; the steam-gauge showed a frightful tension; the steamer flew over the water; her boards creaked, and her chimneys threw out
