Suddenly silence fell upon the paralysed crowd, the deathly silence that precedes an inevitable catastrophe. Then, yonder, a rattle of thunder that rent the air. Then the voice of the captain at his post, roaring out his orders, trying to shout down the monster's myriad voices.
For a moment there seemed some hope of salvation. The vessel put forth so great an effort that she appeared to be gliding along a tangent away from the infernal circle into which she was on the point of being drawn. But it was a vain hope! The circle seemed to be increasing in size. Its outer waves were approaching. A mass of rock crushed one of the funnels.
And again there were shrieks, followed by a panic and an insane rush for the life-boats; already some of the passengers were fighting for places. . . .
Simon did not hesitate. Isabel was a good swimmer. They must make the attempt.
"Come!" he said. The girl, standing beside him, had flung her arms about him. "We can't stay here! Come!"
And, when she struggled, instinctively resisting the course which he had proposed, he took a firmer hold of her.
She entreated him:
"Oh, it's horrible . . . all these children . . . the little girl crying! . . . Couldn't we save them?"
"Come!" he repeated, in a masterful tone.
She still resisted him. Then he took her head in his two hands and kissed her on the lips: