Титанік
Chapter 15
“Allquietnow,”reportedtheBirmatotheOlympic,andallquietitwas,exceptforthethrashingandpoundingofascoreofpropellers,andthehissofadozensteelstemsastheyrippedthesmoothwatersoncoursesconvergingtothespotwherethewirelessvoicehadsuddenlyflickeredoutintosilence.
ButofallthosewhohadbeenlisteningtothesignalsCaptainRostronoftheCarpathiaknewthathisshipwouldmostlikelybeamongthefirsttoreachthespot.ItwasaboutmidnightonSundaythatthepassengersoftheCarpathiafirstbecameawarethatsomethingunusualwashappening.Thecoursehadbeenchangedandacertainhurryingaboutonthedeckstooktheplaceoftheusualmidnightquiet.Thetremblingandvibrationincreasedtoaquickjumpingmovementaspressureofsteamwasgraduallyincreasedandtheenginesurgedtotheextremeoftheirdrivingcapacity.Thechiefstewardsummonedhisstaffandsetthemtoworkmakingsandwichesandpreparinghotdrinks.Allthehotwaterwascutofffromthecabinsandbath-rooms,sothateveryounceofsteamcouldbeutilizedfordrivingthemachinery.
TheCarpathiawasnearlyseventymilesfromthepositionoftheTitanicwhenshechangedhercourseandturnednorthward;shehadbeensteamingjustoverfourhourswhen,inthelightofthatwonderfuldawn,thoseonthelook-outdescriedasmallboat.Astheydrewnearertheysawotherboats,andfragmentsofwreckage,andmassesoficedriftingaboutthesea.
