By this time the ship had ceased trembling and shivering. She had come to a stop and seemed to be resting calmly and quietly on some island or sand-bar. She was on an even keel; that is, she was not tilted to one side or the other. And had it not been for that startling bump, any one on board might have thought the Beacon still floating quietly in the water.
“Anyhow the foghorn doesn’t blow any more,” said Sue. “I’m glad of that.”
“So am I,” agreed her mother. “It was getting on my nerves, blowing all the while.”
Though the ship herself was quiet, there was much confusion on board, it seemed. Outside in the corridors beyond the staterooms men could be heard hurrying to and fro. Voices also were heard, and Bunny and Sue caught such words as:
“We’re in no danger.”
“We’ll be off in the morning.”
“Yes, the tide will lift us off the bar.”
Hearing this talk, either from the ship’s officers or some of the passengers, made Mrs. Brown and the children feel that they would be all right when daylight came.
Bunny and Sue had crawled into the berths of Mrs. Brown’s stateroom, determined to remain awake until their father should return. But with the ship so quiet and the fog whistle no longer blowing, a calmness seemed to settle over the children. Mrs. Brown sat on a little stool, saying nothing, and soon she could tell by the deep, regular breathing of Sue that the little girl was fast asleep.
Mrs. Brown smiled and looked at Bunny lying in the upper berth. She saw him with his hands on his eyes.