furiously.

There was little confusion, little talking upon the upper deck
now; only a child whimpered or a woman sobbed hysterically. But
down forward among the steerage passengers the case was
different. These were mainly Montenegrins, Polacks, or Slavs
bound for the construction camps to the westward, and they surged
from side to side like cattle, requiring Tomlinson's best efforts
to keep them from rushing aft.

O'Neil had employed thousands of such men; in fact, many of these
very fellows had cashed his time-checks and knew him by sight. He
went forward among them, and his appearance proved instantly
reassuring. He found his two hostlers, and with their aid he soon
reduced the mob to comparative order.

But in spite of his confident bearing he felt a great uneasiness.
The Nebraska seemed upon the point of diving; he judged she must
be settling very fast, and wondered that the forward tilt did not
lift her propeller out of the water. Fortunately, however, the
surface of the sound was like a polished floor and there were no
swells to submerge her.

Over-side to starboard he could see the dim black outlines of
mountains slipping past, but where lay Halibut Bay or what
distance remained to be covered he could but vaguely guess.

In these circumstances the wait became almost unbearable. The
race seemed hours long, the mites stretched into leagues, and
with every moment of suspense the ship sank lower. The end came