“Get into those boats!” he roared savagely. “It won't do you a bit of good to whine and pray and squeal. I'm through with you. You've got to—Well?”
Several of the men edged forward, some of them trying to smile.
“Would you kill us when we are only trying to save our lives?” called out one of them, finding his courage and voice.
“I don't want to talk to you. Get in!”
“We have as much right to remain on this ship as anybody else,” shouted another. “We paid for our passage. We are honest, hard-working—”
“No use! I'll give you ten minutes to climb into those boats.”
There was a moment's silence. “And what will you do if we refuse to leave the ship?” cried one of the men.
“Be quiet!” he bawled at the whimpering women. “We cannot hear what the gentleman has to say.”
“You'll soon find out what I'll do, if you don't obey me inside of ten minutes,” replied Percival.
“But the ship is not going to sink any more,” protested another, looking over the rail timidly. “She is safe. We do not wish to leave now.”