Others, frankly terrified at the outset, sauntered timidly away from the life-boats to which they were assigned.

Every one was glad that the Captain had ordered a life-boat drill on the first afternoon out, and every one was glad that he had ignored the demand of Mr.Landover that the boats be lowered the instant he discovered that his passengers were in peril.

No news was good news, argued the majority, and jesting was in order.
Peter Snipe, the novelist, got out a pad of paper and began jotting down impressions.

Madam Careni-Amori and Signor Joseppi exchanged the first friendly words they had spoken to each other in weeks, and in full view of an entranced audience linked arms and strode bravely to and fro, the former clasping a huge jewel case to her ample bosom, the latter chafing perceptibly under the weight of an invisible belt stuffed to its capacity with banknotes and gold.

Chilean ladies and Chilean gentlemen, dazzling Brazilian ladies and pompous Brazilian gentlemen, smug Argentinians, lordly Castilians, garrulous Portuguese, lofty English gentlemen and supercilious English ladies, friendly and irrepressible Americans,--all of them swinging their sea-legs with new-found abandon--clattered solidly around the wind-swept circuit.