the falls flying around at daylight, and only bits of boats. It was a
case. Every time she lay down in the trough, and a sea went over her
solid, we watched her come up again. She took her time about it.

"The engineers were at it below, trying to get her clear. They had the
donkey going. In the afternoon we sighted a steamer's smoke to
westward. She bore down on us. I never seen anything I liked better
than that. Then the Chief came up, and I saw him talking to the old
man. The old man climbed round to us. 'Now, lads,' he said, 'there's
a Cunarder coming. But the engineer says he reckons he's getting her
clear of water. What about it? Shall I signal the liner, or will you
stand by her?'

"We let the Cunarder go. I watched her out of sight. We hung around,
and just about sunset the Chief came up again. I heard what he said.
'It's overhauling us fast, sir,' he said to the old man. The old man,
he stood looking down at the deck. Nobody said anything for a spell.
Then a fireman shot through a companion on all fours, scrambled to the
bulwarks, and looked out. He began cursing the sun, shaking his fist
at it every time it popped over the seas. It was low down. It was
funny to hear him. 'So long, chaps,' he said, and dropped overside.

"We waited all night. I couldn't sleep, what with the noise of the
seas running over us, and waiting for something to happen. It was
perishing cold, too. At sun-up I could see she might pitch under at
any time. She was about awash. The old man came to me and the
steward, and said: 'Give the men all the gin they'll drink. Fill 'em
up.' Some of 'em took it. I never knew a ship take such a hell of a
time to sink as that one.