with the result that her bow suddenly dropped
into the water while her stern still hung suspended from the davit, and
every man of the crowd who had scrambled into her was instantly
precipitated into the water.

While this was going on upon the poop, the entire crowd of cuddy
passengers appeared to be huddled together about the companion, utterly
helpless and bewildered, while a party of seamen were working
desperately down on the main deck to get the four boats off the gallows.
I could not see that anyone was doing anything to clear away the long
boat; but that was probably because she had been destroyed by the fall
of the mainmast, which appeared to have crashed right down on the top of
her.

As for me, I did nothing; for the simple reason that there was nothing
to be done; the ship was sinking fast--so fast, indeed, that she would
probably plunge head first to the bottom in less than five minutes,
which--taking into consideration the state of absolute panic that
prevailed, and the inextricable raffle of wreckage that cumbered and
filled the decks--would leave no time in which to construct even the
rudest kind of raft. No, there seemed to be nothing for it but for all
hands to go down with the ship, thanks to the terror-stricken
selfishness of the 'tween-decks passengers, who were too ignorant to do
anything useful themselves, and too obstinate and distrustful to allow
anyone else to do anything. For myself, I had made up my mind not to
give in and die so long as I could do anything to help myself; I was a
good swimmer, and when the ship went down I should look out for a piece
of wreckage, and cling to it until I was picked up by some passing ship,
or perished of hunger and thirst.

Suddenly, as I was standing close to the binnacle, watching the frantic
mob of fighting miners, a woman emerged from the after companion, close
beside me. She glanced round for a moment, in terror at the conflict
that was raging about the boats, and then, stepping quickly to my side,
laid her hand upon my arm--I could see the gleam and glitter of gems
upon it in the dim starlight--and said, in a voice which I at once
recognised as that of Miss Onslow:

"Oh, Mr Conyers, what does all this mean? What has happened? Is the
ship sinking? For pity's sake tell me?"

"Miss Onslow," said I, "summon all your courage to your aid, I beg you,
for you will need it. I have the worst possible news to tell you. The
ship is sinking fast--she w