Then he became conscious of the confusion, and awakening uproar on both vessels. Cries of agony, shouts of alarm, and hoarse orders pierced the midnight air. He ran forward and saw the yawning cavern which the blow had made in the ship's side, and heard the rush of water into the hold. Across the chasm he saw the captain's pale face looking down with a dismay like his own. "The ship will sink, and soon," Gregory shouted. There was no denial. Down to the startled passengers he rushed, crying, "Awake! Escape for your lives!" His words were taken up and echoed in every part of the ship. He struck a heavy blow upon the door of Annie's stateroom. "Miss Walton!" "Oh, what has happened?" she asked. "You and Miss Morton come on deck, instantly; don't stop to dress; snatch a shawl--anything. Lose not a moment. What is Hunting's number?" "Forty, on the opposite side." "I will be back in a moment; be ready." Hunting's state-room was so near where the steamer had been struck that its door was jammed and could not be opened. "Help! help! I can't get out," shrieked the terrified man. Gregory wrenched a leaf from a dining-room table and pried the door open. "Come," he said, "you've no time to dress." Hunting wrapped his trembling form in a blanket and gasped, as he followed, "I'll pay you back every cent of that money with interest." "Make your peace with God. We may soon be before Him," was the awful response. Miss Eulie and Annie stood waiting, draped in heavy shawls. "I'm sorry for the delay; Hunting's door was jammed and had to be broken open. Come;" and putting his arm around Miss Eulie and taking Annie's hand, he forced them rapidly through the increasing throng of terror-stricken passengers that were rushing in all directions. Even then, with a strange thrill at heart, Annie thought, "He has saved his enemy's life." He took them well aft, and said, "Don't move; stand just here until I return," and then pushed his way to the point where a frantic crowd were snatching for the life preservers which were being given out. The officer, knowing him, tossed him four as requested. Coming back, he said to Hunting, "Fasten that one on Miss Morton and keep the other." Throwing down his own for a moment, he proceeded to fasten Annie's. He would not trust the demoralized Hunting to do anything for her, and he was right, for Hunting's hands so trembled that he was helpless. Having seen that Annie's was secured beyond a doubt, Gregory also tied on Miss Eulie's. In the meantime a passenger snatched his own preserving-belt, which he had been trying to keep by placing his foot upon it. "Stop," Annie cried. "O Mr. Gregory! he has taken it and you have none. You shall have mine;" and she was about to unfasten it. He laid a strong grasp upon her hands. "Stop such folly," he said, sternly. "Come to where they are launching that boat. You have no choice;" and he forced her forward while Hunting followed with Miss Eulie.