“What happened?” Masterton asked and broke into a paroxysm of coughing as he breathed in the smoke.
“The gunpowder!” Watters said. “We have to put the fire out before it takes hold.”
Orange flames roared from the galley storeroom as the sugar caught fire.
“Water; there are barrels of fresh water with the galley stores,” Masterton said.
Watters stepped back as an eruption of flames surged towards him. Swearing, he removed his jacket, wrapped it around his head and looked into the room. Orange flames and coiling smoke forced him to step back. “I’ll try for the water kegs,” he said. “You organise the pumps. Get hoses down here.”
“Where’s Smithy?”
“He’s gone! Move!” Watters ordered.
Masterton nodded and fled, leaving Watters alone with the flames. He looked into the storeroom. Thankfull
