Chapter 10

           Whenthepeoplecameondeckitwashalf-pasttwelve.Thefirst-classpassengerscamepouringupthetwomainstaircasesandoutontotheboatdeck­someofthemindignant,manyofthemcurious,somefewofthemalarmed.Theyfoundthereeverythingasusualexceptthatthelongdeckwasnotquitelevel;ittilteddownwardsalittletowardsthebow,andtherewasaslightlisttowardsthestarboardside.Thestarswereshiningintheskyandtheseawasperfectlysmooth,althoughdottedaboutithereandtherewerelumpsofdark-colouredice,almostinvisibleagainstthebackgroundofsmoothwater.Alonglineofstewardswasformingupbesidetheboatsoneitherside­thosesolidwhiteboats,stretchingfaraftintwolonglines,thatbecamesuddenlyinvestedwithpracticalinterest.Officerswereshoutingorders,seamenwerebusyclearingupthecoilsofropeattachedtothedavittackles,fittingtheironhandlestothewinchesbywhichthedavitsthemselveswerecantedoverfromtheinwardpositionoverthedecktotheoutwardpositionovertheship’sside.Almostatthesametimearushofpeoplebeganfromthesteeragequarters,swarmingupstairwaysandladderstoreachthishighdeckhithertosacredtothefirst-classpassengers.Atfirsttheywereheldbackbyacordonofstewards,butsomebrokethroughandotherswereallowedthrough,sothatpresentlyalargeproportionoftheship’scompanywascrowdingabouttheboatdeckandtheoneimmediatelybelowit.