It must have been close upon midnight, and there was no light but the dim, glow-worm glimmer of the lanterns on deck.

Every one was hurrying past me.

I began almost to repent of the desperate step I had taken; but I had learned already that there is no possibility of retracing one's steps.

At the gangways of the two vessels there were men shouting hoarsely.

"This way for the Channel Islands!" "This way for Havre and Paris!" To which boat should I trust myself and my fate?
There was nothing to guide me.