Титаник

           ‘One,’Iheardhimsay,andthen‘Two,’astheknifecutthroughthepulleyrope.

           “’Thenextmomenttheexhauststreamcarriedusclear,whileboatNdroppedintothewater,takingthespacewehadoccupiedamomentbefore.Ourgunwaleswerealmosttouching.Wedriftedawayeasily,andwhenouroarsweregotout,weheadeddirectlyawayfromtheship.’”

           Butalthoughtherewasnosenseofdanger,thereweresomepainfulpartingsonthedeckwherethewomenwereembarked;foryoumustthinkofthissceneasgoingonforatleastanhouramidaconfusionofpeoplepressingabout,tryingtofindtheirfriends,askingforinformation,listeningtosomenewrumour,tryingtodecidewhethertheyshouldorshouldnotgointheboats,toaconstantaccompanimentofshoutedorders,theroarofescapingsteam,thesquealandwhineoftheropesandpulleys,andthegaymusicoftheband,whichCaptainSmithhadorderedtoplayduringtheembarkation.Everynowandthenawomanwouldbeforcedawayfromherhusband;everynowandthenahusband,havinggotintoaboatwithhiswife,wouldbemadetogetoutofitagain.Ifitwashardforthewivestogo,itwasharderforthehusbandstoseethemgotosuchcertaindiscomfortandinsuchstrangecompany.ColonelAstor,whoseyoungwifewasinadelicatestateofhealth,hadgotintotheboatwithhertolookafterher;andnowonder.Buthewasorderedoutagainandcameatonce,nodoubtfeelingbitterly,poorsoul,thathewouldhavegivenmanyofhismillionstobeabletogohonourablywithher