Chapter 14

           Astheshipsankandthecommotionandswirlofthewavessubsided,themostterribleexperienceofallbegan.Theseaswerenotvoiceless;thehorrifiedpeopleinthesurroundingboatsheardanawfulsoundfromthedarkcentralarea,acollectivevoice,compoundofmoans,shrieks,criesanddespairingcalls,fromthosewhowerestrugglinginthewater.Itwasanareaofdeathandofagonytowardswhichthoseintheboatsdarednotventure,evenalthoughtheyknewtheirownfriendswereperishingandcryingforhelpthere.Theycouldonlywaitandlisten,hopingthatitmightsoonbeover.Butitwasnotsoonover.Therewasagreatdealoffloatingwreckagetowhichhundredsofpeopleclung,someforashorttime,someforalongtime;andwhiletheyclungontheycriedouttotheirfriendstosavethem.Oneboat­thatcommandedbyMr.Lowe,theFifthOfficer­did,aftertransshippingsomeofitspassengersintootherboats,andembarkingacrewofoarsmen,venturebackintothedarkcentreofthings.Thewreckageanddeadbodiesshowedtheseasothicklythattheycouldhardlyrowwithouttouchingadeadbody;andonce,whentheyweretryingtoreachasurvivorwhowasclingingtoapieceofbrokenstaircase,prayingandcallingforhelp,ittookthemnearlyhalfanhourtocoverthefiftyfeetthatseparatedthemfromhim,sothickwerethebodies.Thisreadslikeanexaggeration,butitiswellattested.Thewaterwasicycold,andbenumbedmanyofthem,whothusdiedquickly;afewheldontolife,moaning,wailing,calling­butinvain.

           Afewstrongmenwerestillmakingadesperatefightforlife.