fog and weather have prevented any observation. Do you stay here,
madam. I'll come for you when I am ready--" and he laid his hand
encouragingly on the widow's arm.

With this he turned to the Texan and the Actor:

"You understand, both of you, do you not, Mr. Bonner? You and your
friend will guard the aft companion-way, and help the Chief Engineer
take care of the stokers and the steerage. I and the First Officer will
fill the boats."

The beginning of a panic is like the beginning of a fire: first a curl
of smoke licking through a closed sash, then a rush of flame, and then a
roar freighted with death. Its subduing is along similar lines: A sharp
command clearing the way, concentrated effort, and courage.

Here the curl of smoke was an agonized shriek from an elderly woman who
fell fainting on the deck; the rush of flame was a wild surge of men
hurling themselves toward the boats, and the roar which meant death was
the frenzied throng of begrimed half-naked stokers and crazed emigrants
who were wedged in a solid mass in the companion-way leading to the
upper deck. The subduing was the same.

[Illustration: Back, all of you ]

"Back, all of you!" shouted the Engineer. "The first man who passes
that door without my permission I'll kill! Five of you at a time--no
crowding--keep 'em in line, Mr. Bonner--you and your friend!"

The Texan and the Bum Actor were within three feet of him as he
spoke--the Texan as cool as if he were keeping count of a drove of
steers, except that he tallied with the barrel of a six-shooter instead
of a note-book and pencil. The Bum Actor's face was deathly white and
his pistol hand trembled a little, but he did not flinch. He ranged the
lucky ones in line farther along, and kept them there. "Anything to
get home," he had told the Texan when he had slipped Bonner's other
revolver, an hour before, into his pocket.

On the saloon deck the flame of fear was still raging, although the
sailors and the three stewards were so many moving automatons under
the First Officer's orders. The widow, with her baby held tight to her
breast, had not moved from where the Captain had placed her, nor had
she uttered a moan. The crisis was too great for anything but implicit
obedience. The Captain had kept his word, and had told her when danger
threatened; she must now wait for what God had in store for her. The boy
stood by the First Officer; he had clapped his hands and laughed when he
saw the first boat