In a moment I was out of my state-room, at the bulwark, holding fast to a stanchion, and looking over the side at the white and seething water caused by her sudden and violent stoppage.

The sea was comparatively smooth, the night pitch-dark, and the fog deep and impenetrable; the ship would rise with the swell, and come down with a bump and quiver that was decidedly unpleasant.

Soon the passengers were out of their rooms, undressed, calling for help, and praying as though the ship were going to sink immediately.

Of course she could not sink, being already on the bottom, and the only question was as to the strength of hull to stand the bumping and straining.

Great confusion for a time prevailed, but soon I realized that the captain had taken all proper precautions to secure his boats, of which there were six at the davits.