As he sat in the state-room, glad that he had succeeded yet in keeping Gerald so unexcited, Belmont came to his mind. “Most likely he’s in that crowd forward,” he thought. “One comfort! However bad a scare it is, I fancy it’s upset him and his schemes in making us trouble.”
But just then began a rush in the cabin and loud words and outcries. People came running down the saloon, and there was trampling of feet up the brass steps of the staircases, and hasty orders. Gerald, terrified, leaped from his berth and ran trembling out into the passage. There the two lads stood together, wild-eyed. They heard the captain speaking and drawing nearer with each word: “Ladies and gentlemen, you are aware that an explosion down in the hold has broken a hole in the bow. We thought we could manage it; we cannot. The steamer must sink inside of an hour. Be quiet, I tell you――and keep calm! There is plenty of time. We must take to the boats in as good order and as quickly as possible. We cannot beach the ship, the engines are crippled. Please prepare yourselves and come aft.”
A great cry went up from those who heard. The worst was known! Arm tightly clasped in arm, the two lads tried to grasp this news that made their hearts leap to their throats. Could it be true? But following the captain’s words and the sounds of panic that rose with them came the boom――boom――of the signal-gun, the tolling of the bell, the louder scream of the whistle, and the flash of rockets and Bengal lights――not likely to be of much use in that dense fog.
Yes, it was true! So swiftly, so mysteriously had they passed from safety to――what? To the need of hurrying from what had been a gallant, strong ship, now become a mere sinking mass of iron and wood; to making their way to the shore, in open boats, over an angry sea, in night and mist; in a word, to meeting together――Gerald with no friend near save Philip, and Philip with none save little Gerald, who clung to him for protection, every thing――the chances of life or death. May none of us who read this history ever have to exclaim, with a prospect of the awful thing staring us in the face, “From sudden death, good Lord, deliver us!” Some of us hear it read, Sunday after Sunday, heedlessly enough. It came into Philip’s thoughts now with all its appeal――“From sudden death!”