Титаник
Chapter 12
Pitmansaysthatwhenheawokeheheardasoundwhichseemedtohimtobethesoundoftheshipcomingtoanchor.Hewasnotactuallyawakethen,buthehadthesensationoftheshiphalting,andheardasoundlikethatofchainswhirlingroundthewindlassandrunningthroughthehawseholesintothewater.Helayinbedforthreeorfourminuteswonderinginasleepysortofwaywheretheycouldhaveanchored.Then,becomingmoreawake,hegotup,andwithoutdressingwentoutondeck;hesawnothingremarkable,buthewentbackanddressed,suspectingthatsomethingwasthematter.WhilehewasdressingMr.Boxhalllookedinandsaid:“Wehavestruckaniceberg,oldman;hurryup!”
Healsowentdownbelowtomakeaninspectionandfindoutwhatdamagehadbeendone.Hewenttotheforwardwelldeck,whereicewaslying,andintothefo’c’s’le,butfoundnothingwrongthere.Theactualdamagewasfartheraft,andatthattimethewaterhadnotcomeintothebowsoftheship.Ashewasgoingbackhemetanumberoffiremencomingupthegangwaywiththeirbagsofclothing;theytoldhimthatwaterwascomingintotheirplace.Theywerefiremenoffduty,whoafterwardswereupontheboatdeckhelpingtomantheboats.ThenMr.PitmanwentdownlowerintotheshipandlookedintoNhatch,wherehecouldplainlyseewater.Allthistooktime;andwhenhecamebackhefoundthatthemenwerebeginningtogettheboatsready,ataskatwhichhehelpedunderMr.Murdoch’sorders.PresentlyMr.Murdochorderedhimtotakecommandofaboatandhangaboutaftofthegangway.