Captain Trigger and a dozen men stood on the boat deck with guns and revolvers, facing several hundred sullen, determined men and women from the steerage.

Night had not yet fallen; the shadow of the hills, however, was reaching half way across the oval pool; gloom impenetrable had settled on the wooded shores.
With the striking of the Doraine, nearly every one on board was hurled to the decks.

As she heeled over five or six degrees in settling herself among the rocks, a panic ensued among the ignorant people of the steerage.

They scrambled to their feet and made a rush for the boats, shouting and screaming in their terror.

Other passengers were trampled under foot and sailors standing by the davits were hurled aside.
Captain Trigger, anticipating just such a stampede, rushed up with members of the gun crew.