Титаник

           Noonewantedtobethefirsttogetintotheboatandleavetheship.“Comeon,”criedtheofficers.Therewasapause,followedbythebriefcommand,“Putthemin.”

           Thecrewseizedthenearestwomenandpushedorliftedthemovertherailintothefirstboat,whichwasnowhangingoverthesidelevelwiththedeck.Buttheywereveryunwillingtogo.Theboat,whichlookedbigandsolidonthedeck,nowhungdizzilyseventy-fivefeetoverthedarkwater;itseemedafarfromattractiveprospecttogetintoitandgooutontothecoldsea,especiallyaseveryonewasconvincedthatitwasamerelyformalprecautionwhichwasbeingtaken,andthatthepeopleintheboatswouldmerelyberowedoffalittlewayandkeptshiveringonthecoldseaforatimeandthenbroughtbacktotheshipwhenitwasfoundthatthedangerwaspast.For,walkingaboutthedeck,peoplerememberedallthethingsthattheyhadbeenthinkingandsayingsincefirsttheyhadseentheTitanic;andwhatwastheuseoftravellingbyanunsinkableshipif,atthefirstalarmofdanger,onehadtoleaveherandrowoutontheicywater?Obviouslyitwasonlytheoldhabitoftheseaassertingitself,andCaptainSmith,whohadhithertobeensuchafavourite,wasbeginningtoberegardedassomethingofanuisancewithhisridiculousprecautions.