swerve and roll of the ship that sent her staggering
against a bulkhead. An outburst of cries and shouting rang through her
brain, and a shriek was wrung from her parched throat.

But the _Andromeda_ righted herself again, though there was another
sound of tearing metal, and the deck heaved perceptibly under a shock.

Ah, kind Heaven! here came Hozier, running, thundering some loud order.

"The port life-boat . . . seaworthy!"

There was a fierce rush, in which she joined. She was knocked down. A
strong hand dragged her to her feet. It was Coke, swearing horribly.
She saw Hozier leap against the flood of men.

"D--n you, the woman first!" she heard him say, and he sent the leaders
of the mob sprawling over the hatches of the forehold.

Coke, almost carrying her in his left arm, butted in among the crew
like an infuriated bull. Some of the men, shamefaced, made way for
them. Hosier reached her. She thought he said to the captain:

"There's a chance, if we can swing her clear."

Then the ship struck, and they were all flung to the deck. They rose,
somehow, anyhow, but the _Andromeda_, apparently resenting the check,
lifted herself bodily, tilted bow upward, and struck again. A mass of
spray dashed down upon the struggling figures who had been driven a
second time to their knees. There was a terrific explosion in the
after-hold, for the deck had burst under the pressure of air, and
another ominous roar announced that the water had reached the furnaces.
Steam and smoke and dust mingled with the incessant lashing of sheets
of spray, and Iris was torn from Coke's grip.

She fancied she heard Hozier cry, "Too late!" and a lightning glimpse
down the sloping deck showed some of the engineers and stokers crawling
up toward the quivering forecastle. She felt herself clasped in
Hozier's arms, and knew that he was climbing. After a few breathless
seconds she realized that they were standing on the forecastle, where
the captain and many of the crew were clinging to the windlass, and
anchor, and cable, and bulwarks, to maintain their footing. Below,
beyond a stretch of unbroken deck, the sea raged against all that was
left of the ship. The bridge just showed above the froth and spume of
sea level. The funnel still held by its stays, but the mainmast was
gone, and with it the string of flags.

The noise was deafening, overpowering. It sounded like the rattle of
some immense factory; yet a voice was audible thr