“Throw it overboard!” cried Mr. Rover, who was enjoying the fun, but who was afraid somebody might get a fire ball in the face.

“Only a few more balls left,” said Tom.  “Hans, try to hit the top of the mast don’t point it downward.”

The German youth was too excited to listen to the advice.  He continued to dance around.  Bang! went another ball and entered the cabin of the steam yacht.  Bang! came the final one and that too disappeared into the interior of the craft.  Then the Roman candle went out, and Hans breathed a sigh of relief.

“I vos glat dot is ofer,” he said.  “No more firevorks for me, not on your kollarbuttons, no!”

“I hope they didn’t do any damage in the cabin—­” began Mrs. Stanhope anxiously, when there came a cry from Aleck Pop.

“Stop dat fire from comin’ down!” yelled the colored man.  “De hull cabin’s in a blaze!”

CHAPTER XV

THE SAILING OF THE STEAM YACHT

The announcement made by Aleck Pop filled all on board the steam yacht with consternation, and while Hans still nursed his arm and wrist the other boys, with Anderson Rover and Captain Barforth, rushed down the companionway.

A glance showed them what was the matter.  One of the balls of fire had struck a curtain and ignited the flimsy material.  The fire was now dropping down on some fireworks Tom had left on a chair.  Just as they entered a pinwheel, lying flat, began to fizz, sending a shower of sparks across the other pieces.

“Quick! out with that stuff!” cried Anderson Rover and sent the pinwheel flying into a corner with his hand.  Then he stepped on it, putting out the fire.

In the meantime, Dick and Sam pulled down the burning curtain and stamped on that.  The others scattered the fireworks and saw to it that not a spark remained in the cabin.

“A close call!” murmured Captain Barforth, when the excitement was over.  “It is lucky we got down here so soon.”

“I was thinkin’ de hull ship was gwine ter bust up!” said Aleck, with a shiver.  “Dis chile knows jess how quick fireworks kin go off.  I see a big combustication of dem one summer in a hotel where I was waiting.  Da had to call de fire department to put dem out an’ da shot out moah dan a dozen winders, too!”

“We had a similar trouble, when the yacht club had a celebration,” said the captain.  “A Japanese lantern dropped on some rockets and set them off.  The rockets flew in all directions and one struck a deck hand in the arm and he had to go to the hospital to be treated.  We have had a lucky escape.”

The accident put a damper on more celebrating, and Tom was requested to store away what remained of the fireworks.  Little did he dream of how useful those fireworks were to become in the future.

Early on the following morning Bahama Bill, presented himself.  The boys had been told how he looked, yet they had all they could do to keep from smiling when he presented himself.  He was a short, thickset man, with broad shoulders, and legs which were very much bowed.  He wore his reddish hair long and also sported a thick beard.  He had a squint in one eye which, as Sam said, “gave him the appearance of looking continually over his shoulder.  When he talked his voice was an alternate squeak and rumble.