Around this boat the officer in charge had placed a cordon of men to keep the crowd away, and stood pistol in hand to enforce his orders. But the boat was scarcely lowered before there was the same wild rush, mostly on the part of the crew and steerage passengers. The officer fired and brought down the foremost, but the frenzied wretches trampled him down with those helping, together with women and children, as a herd of buffaloes might have done. They poured over into the boat, swamped it, and as the steamer moved slowly ahead, were left struggling and perishing in the waves. Gregory had put his arm around Annie and drawn her out of the crush. Fortunately they had been at one side, so that this was possible. "The boats are useless," he said, sadly. "There will be the same suicidal folly at every one, even if they have time to lower any more. Come aft. That part will sink last, and there will be less suction there when the ship goes down. We may find something that will keep us afloat." Annie clung to his arm and said, quietly, "I will do just as you say," while Hunting followed in the same maze of terror. They had hardly got well away before a mast, with its rigging, fell where they had stood, crushing many and maiming others, rendering them helpless. "Awful! awful" shuddered Hunting, and Annie put her hands before her eyes. An officer, with some men, now came toward them with axes, and commenced breaking up the after wheelhouse. "Here is our best chance," said Gregory. "Let us calmly await the final moment and then do the best we can. All this broken timber will float, and we can cling to it." The ship was settling fast, and had become like a log upon the water, responding slowly and heavily to the action of the waves. But under the cold, pitiless starlight of that winter night, what heartrending scenes were witnessed upon her sinking deck! Death had already laid its icy finger on many, and many more were grouped near in despairing expectation of the same fate. While many, like Hunting, were almost paralyzed with fear, and others shrieked and cried aloud in agony--while some prayed incoherently, and others rushed back and forth as if demented--there were not wanting numerous noble examples of faith and courage. Fortunately, there were not many ladies on board, and most of these proved that woman's fortitude is not a poetic fiction. One or two family groups stood near in close embrace, and some men calmly folded their arms across their breasts, and met their fate as God would have them. Annie was conscious of a strange peace and hopefulness. She thrilled with the thought which she expressed to Gregory--"How soon I may see father and mother!"