The first engineer, who commanded that boat, and three of the crew stood by the falls preparing to cast off.

Just below on the deck of the _Mazatlan_ stood two sailors keeping the crowd in order, continually shouting, "Women and children first!" As the women passed their children forward, the sailors lifted them into the boats, some shrieking, others silent and stupid as if stunned.

Then the women were helped up; the men, Vandover among them, climbing in afterward.

The davits were turned out and the boat was swung clear of the ship's side.
Vandover looked out and below him and then made an involuntary movement to regain the ship's deck.

Far below him, or so at least it seemed, were mountains of tumbling green water, huge, relentless, irresistible, rushing on by thousands, to shatter themselves with dreadful force against the ship's side.