I looked at the woman I loved, and self-reproach was in my soul, as I

saw a shudder go across her form. She was pale, but beyond a swift

look at me made no sign connecting me, either with the wreck or the

rescue. I think she had even then abandoned all hope of safety; and in

my own heart, such, also, was the rising conviction which I concealed.

Under the inborn habit of self-preservation, under the cultivated

habit of the well born, to show no fear and to use the resources of a

calm mind to the last in time of danger, we stood now, at least, in

some human equality. And again I lied and said, "There is no danger,"

though I could see the white rollers and could hear their roar on the

shore.

The night grew wilder. The great gulf storm had not yet reached its

climax, and none could tell what pitch of fury that might mean. The

dull jar of the boat as she time and again was flung down by the

waves, the shiver and creak and groan of the sturdy craft, told us

that the end might come at any instant, though now the anchor held

firm and our crawl on to the shoal had ceased. All around us was water

only four or five feet deep, but water whose waves were twice as high.

Once the final crash came, and it would be too late to launch a boat,

and all of us, overboard in that welter, were gone.

Silently, I stepped on deck once more, and motioned to Willy, the

deck-hand, to bring me the life preservers. "Put them on," I said to

Helena.

"Oh, I can't. I can't!" moaned the older woman. "I'm dying--let me

alone."

"Stop this nonsense, madam," said I sternly--knowing that was the only

way--"put it on at once. You too, Miss Emory, and you, my boys. Quick.

Then throw on loose wraps--all you can. It will be cold."

In spite of all my efforts to seem calm, the air of panic ran swiftly.

Mrs. Daniver awoke to swift action as she tremblingly fastened the

belt about her. Pushing past me, she reached the deck, and so mad was

she that in all likelihood she would have sprung overboard. I caught

at her, and though my clutch brought away little more than a handful

of false hair, it seemed to restore her reason though it destroyed her

coiffure. "Enough of this!" I cried to her. "Take your place by the

boat, and do as you are told." And I saw Helena pass forward, also, as

we all reached the deck, herself pale as a wraith, but with no outcry

and no spoken word. So, at last, I ranged them all near the boat that

swung ready at the davits.




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