The deck was tilted to a dangerous angle and remained there, whilst the heavy buffeting of the sea, now raging afresh at this unlooked-for resistance, drowned the despairing yells raised by the Lascars on duty.
The _Sirdar_ had completed her last voyage.

She was now a battered wreck on a barrier reef.

She hung thus for one heart-breaking second.
Then another wave, riding triumphantly through its fellows, caught the great steamer in its tremendous grasp, carried her onward for half her length and smashed her down on the rocks.

Her back was broken.

She parted in two halves.