A good many men were already rushing from their rooms and hurrying up the steep stairs that led from the rear of the saloon to the deck, and I could hear ladies calling out from their rooms as if they were hurrying to get ready to come out.

The stewardess, a tall colored woman, was just going to one of these ladies, who had her head out of the door.

I told Rectus to run up on deck, see how things were going on, and then to come back to the Chippertons' door.

Then I ran to our room, jerked the cork life-preservers from under the pillows, and came out into the saloon with them.

This seemed to frighten several persons, who saw me as I came from our room, and they rushed back for their life-preservers, generally getting into the wrong room, I think.