“I can’t, Jim!”
“Yes, you can—keep Dad back. Wally and I will find out.”
“Boom-m-m! Boom-m-m! Boom-m-m!”
Ahead of the Perseus something struck the water heavily, and almost simultaneously great splashes like waterspouts shot up a ship’s length away. Turning the corner of the deck, carried along by the crowd, Norah saw a grey ship lying not far off, so close that she could see the evil mouths of the guns that looked out from her side. Flame and smoke sprang from them as she stopped, breathless. Again the long crash echoed, and water shot into the air from three great splashes near the big liner.
“Good heavens—they’re shelling us!” a man exclaimed.
The passengers huddled together like frightened sheep, uncertain what to do. There had been no signal for boat-drill, and no officer was visible, except upon the bridge. The crackling of the wireless had stopped—and suddenly they saw the Marconi operator spring up the bridge-ladder.
The doctor took swift command.
“Every one muster on the port side!” he shouted. “No need to risk flying splinters here!”
He hustled the women before him, back to the side from which they had come. A few children were crying pitifully; but there was no disorder, and the women obeyed quietly, those who had no children turning to help the mothers. Stewards appeared, and the doctor sent them through the ship to collect stragglers; the stewardesses came up and took their places quietly.
From the bridge, the second officer came hurrying down. He joined the doctor.