It seemed to echo in the distance like the laughing behind the scenes on the stage. I drew nearer to the doctor and he saw that I was uneasy. “Nonsense,” he said, laughing, “we should defend ourselves.” “But how many _could_ be saved,” I asked, “in case we were really in danger?” “Two hundred—two hundred and fifty at the most with all the boats out, if all arrived safely.” “But the purser told me that there were seven hundred and sixty immigrants,” I insisted, “and there are only a hundred and twenty passengers. How many do you reckon are the officers, the crew, and the servants?” “A hundred and seventy,” the doctor answered. “Then there are a thousand and fifty on board and you can save only two hundred and fifty?” “Yes.” “Well, then, I can understand the hatred of these immigrants whom you take on board like cattle and treat like negroes. They are absolutely certain that in case of danger they would be sacrificed.” “But we should save them when their turn came.” I glanced with horror at the man who was talking to me. He looked honest and straightforward and he evidently meant what he said. And so all these poor creatures who had been disappointed in life, and badly treated by society, would have no right to life until after _we_ were saved, we the more favored ones! Oh, how I understood now the rascally looking fellow, with his hatchet and tomahawk! How thoroughly I approved at that moment of the revolvers and the knives hidden in the belts. Yes, he was quite right, the tall, red-haired fellow. We want the first places, always the first places ... and so we might have the first places! Into the water with us! “Well, are you satisfied?” asked the captain who was just coming out of his cabin. “Has it gone off all right?” “Yes, captain,” I answered, “but I am horrified.” Jonclas stepped back in surprise.... “Good heavens, what has horrified you?” he asked. “The way in which you treat your passengers ...” He tried to put in a word, but I continued: “Why ... you expose us in case of a shipwreck....” “We never have a shipwreck....” “Good ... in case of a fire, then....” “Good ... in case of submersion....” “We never have a fire....” “I give in,” he said, laughing. “To what do we expose you, madame?” “To the very worst of deaths ... to a blow on the head with an ax, to a dagger thrust in our back, or merely to be flung into the water....” He attempted to speak, but again I continued: “There are seven hundred and fifty immigrants below and there are scarcely three hundred of us, counting first-class passengers and the crew.... You have boats which might save two hundred persons and even that is doubtful....” “Well?” “Well, what about the immigrants?” “We should save them before the crew.” “But after us?” “Yes, after you.” “And you fancy that they would let you do it?” “We have guns with which to keep them in order.” “Guns ... guns for women and children.” “No ... the women and children would take their turn first.”