houting to know what had happened,
while the poor women and children rushed frantically hither and thither,
jostling each other, wringing their hands, some weeping, some screaming
hysterically, and some calling to children who had become separated from
them in the seething crowd.

The first man to run up against me was the skipper, who sprang out of
his cabin straight on to the bridge, exclaiming, as he clutched me by
the arm:

"What is it? What has happened? For God's sake speak, man!"

"The ship," I answered, "has been struck by an enormous meteorite, sir,
which has set her on fire, I believe, and has passed out through her
bottom. She has taken a perceptible list to starboard already."

At this moment I was interrupted by the chief engineer, who dashed up on
the bridge, demanding breathlessly: "Where is the captain?"

"I am here, Mr Kennedy. What is the news? Out with it!" jerked the
skipper.

"My engines are wrecked, sir; utterly destroyed," answered Kennedy; "and
the ship is holed through her bottom, down in the engine-room. The hole
is big enough to drive a coach through, and the room is half-full of
water already. If either of the bulkheads goes we shall sink like a
stone!"

At this juncture we were joined by the chief, second, and third
officers, who came upon each other's heels.

"Ah! here you are, gentlemen," remarked the skipper. "I was about to
send for you. I learn from Mr Blackburn that the ship has been struck
by a falling meteor which, Mr Kennedy tells me, has passed through her
bottom. According to him the engine-room is flooded; and he is of
opinion that if either of the engine-room bulkheads yields the ship will
go down quickly--in which opinion I agree with him. Even as it is, you
may notice that the ship is taking a strong list, and is very
perceptibly deeper in the water; therefore I will ask you, Mr Hoskins,"
(to the chief officer) "and you, Mr Cooper," (to the second) "to muster
the hands, proceed to the boat-deck, and clear away the boats, ready for
lowering, in case of necessity. You, Mr Stroud," (to the third
officer) "will mount guard at the foot of the boat-deck ladder and
prevent passengers passing up until the boats are ready and I give the
word. Mr Blackburn, go down and find the purser; tell him what has
happened, what we are doing, and ask him to keep the people quiet until
we are ready for them, and you can lend him a hand. Thank God, the
boats are all provision