“But—I don’t understand.â€�
“You will! This won’t be the first ship that has been sunk in the same manner. I don’t think there is any way to save her. See, she’s listing to starboard. Hear the crew?�
They stepped to the cabin door. The Germans by the life-boat had vanished. A running of footsteps sounded overhead. The hoarse voice of the captain blared through the fog. An oiler burst through the engine-room companion and staggered forward.
“She’s sinking!� he shouted in English. “Der ship is sinking!�
“I hope it is,� said Fay. “The fools haven’t sense enough to shut off the sea-cocks and start the bilge pumps. A little black water in an engine room is very
disconcerting. Come, Saidee,� he added. “Dutch Gus will be driven from his cabin like a rat from a hole.�
She walked past him. He saw her climb to the after boat and jerk at the lanyard of the wooden plug. The cord broke. He passed around the pilot-house, grasped a hand-rail and lowered himself to the starboard side as the ship lurched and her bow went under a northern wave.
Pandemonium seized the decks. The crew and the engine-room force lost their heads. Their one thought was to outboard the life-boats and get away. Burly forms loomed through the fog. Knives slashed at the boats’ lashings. Fay heard a cry from aft. A boat had already been lowered. He glided along the canted deck and saw that the door to Dutch Gus’s cabin was still barred. The German crook had been deserted by his companions. The planks, nailed in place by the purser and the deck hand, were stout ones.
Fay waited until Saidee Isaacs came through the fog and the sea-spray. She was water-soaked and frightened. She had seen the crew deserting the ship.
“Get by that forward boat!� he ordered. “I’ll be there in a minute. The ship will float a little longer. Stand by, Saidee, and wait for me!�