“Go overboard, then,” I says savagely; “for now you’ve pumped all that hot water out of your hold, you can’t sink.”
Now all this time the fire was roaring away, and sending a glow in all directions for far enough round, while the sparks kept on dropping like a shower. It was a beautiful sight in spite of the horror; and I couldn’t help looking at it a minute, till I turned round and saw Mr Ward standing quite still, looking down upon Miss Bell, who was on her knees by her brother’s side. But as I was looking, she got up pale and quiet, and looked first at me, and then at Mr Ward, and then she says quickly:
“Why do you both waste time? Why do you not swim after the boat?”
“And you?” said Mr Ward in a slow husky way.
She did not answer, only turned for a moment towards where her brother lay with his head on a cushion, and pointed to him with a sad smile, and then, holding out her hand to me as she sank upon her knees again by her brother’s side, she said:
“God bless you, Mr Roberts! Good-bye.”
I took her pretty little white hand, and kissed it, and then stood back; for she held out her hand to Mr Ward; and he took it and kissed it, and then sank on his knees by her side, holding her hand tightly; and when she said once more, “Go!” he only smiled and kissed her hand again.
It was so still, in spite of the fluttering roar of the flames, that I could hear every word he said, as he almost whispered to her: “Eady, darling, I’ll never leave you.”
The next moment her face was down in her other hand, and I could see that she was sobbing, so, feeling all wet-eyed myself, I turned away, when if there wasn’t that fat passenger blubbering away more than ever!
“Get up, will you,” I says; “I never did see such a thundering swab in my life as you are.” But all he says was: “O, Mr Roberts!”