They stood waiting where the lantern's glare fell upon their faces, with many others more pale and agonized. Annie clung to him as her only hope (for Hunting seemed almost paralyzed with fear), and whispered, "Will you the same as die for me again?" "Yes, God bless you! a thousand times if there were need," he said, in tones whose gentleness equalled the harshness of his former words. She looked at him wonderingly. There was no fear upon his face, only unspeakable love for her. "Are you not afraid?" she asked. "You said I was a Christian to-day, and your Bible and God's voice in my heart have confirmed your words. No, I am at peace in all this uproar, save anxiety for you." She buried her face upon his shoulder. "My darling sister!" he murmured in her ear. "How can I ever thank you enough?" Then he started suddenly, and tearing off the cape of his coat, said to Hunting, "Fasten that around Miss Morton;" and before Annie quite knew what he was doing he had taken off the body part and incased her in it. "Here, Hunting, your belt is not secure"; and he tightened the straps. "Pass the women forward," shouted the captain. Of course those nearest were embarked first. The ladies in Gregory's charge had to take their turn, and the boat was about full when Miss Eulie was lowered over the side. At that moment the increasing throng, with a deeper realization of danger, as the truth of their situation grew plainer, felt the first mad impulse of panic, and there was a rush toward the boat. Hunting felt the awful contagion. His face had the look of a hunted wild beast. Annie gazed wonderingly at him, but as he half-started with the others for the boat she understood him. Laying a restraining hand upon his arm, she said, in a low tone, "If you leave my side now, you leave it forever." He cowered back in shame. The officer in charge of the boat had shouted, "This boat is for women and children; as you are men and not brutes, stand back." This checked the desperate mob for a moment, and Gregory was about to pass Annie down when there was another mad rush led by the blatant individual who had scouted the idea of Providence. "Cut away all," shouted the captain from the bridge, and the boat dropped astern. It was only by fierce effort that Gregory kept himself and Annie from being carried over the side by the surging mass, many of whom leaped blindly over, supposing the boat to be still there. Pressing their way out they went where another boat was being launched. Hunting followed them like a child, and was as helpless. He now commenced moaning, "O God! what shall I do? what shall I do?" "Trust Him, and be a man. What else should you do?" said Gregory, sternly, for he was deeply disgusted at Hunting's behavior.