The ship was slowly sinking to one side. The angle was very perceptible, and especially noticed as the boys reached the stairway, for it was found to be impossible to ascend by the starboard stairs. This made it more difficult to get the people out of the crowded rooms below. "Don't get excited!" shouted the officer from the head of the stairs. "We can all clear the ship safely before she goes down." As fast as the passengers reached the deck, officers were present to direct them to the most advantageous boats, but no orders were given to man the boats. The bow of the ship had gone down, and she was now lying at a considerable angle, but it was evident that there was considerable buoyancy in the vessel, and that there was no immediate danger. "Are you sure that all are out of the cabins?" asked the captain, as one of the porters appeared at the end of the passageway. "We might as well take a look," said Alfred, as he rushed toward the port passage. "I will go through the other passageway and meet you at the aft stairway," said Ralph, as he darted toward the gangway leading along the right side of the ship. Alfred diligently opened every door and glanced about; he was not long in reaching the aft stairway area, and waited for some minutes for Ralph to appear. As he was crossing the open space between the two passageways, he heard a shriek, followed by piercing screams, evidently from the port passage. Directed by the sounds he sprang from door to door, and soon detected a terrific struggle. "Help! help! I am being murdered!" was the cry. At the door of a cabin Alfred saw two forms, one the woman, and the other Ralph in a fierce struggle, the woman with her arms around the post, which extended upward from the floor at the side of the cabin couch. She defied every effort on the part of Ralph. Alfred seized her hands, gradually loosened them, and when they had succeeded in freeing her, she dropped down, completely exhausted, threw her head to one side, and swooned. This greatly facilitated her removal. The boys dragged her along the passageway, and, nearing the stairs, noticed a peculiar sound, something like a muffled explosion, followed by a sudden lurch of the ship, which destroyed their balance so that they were compelled to drop their burden. "What can that be?" asked Ralph. "Seems as though we have been hit the second time," replied Alfred. "Oh! here you are!" shouted the captain, as he rushed down the stairway, followed by an officer. "What was that?" asked Ralph. "A bulkhead has just given way," replied the captain. "Then we are bound to go down," said Alfred with a sigh. "We must get her up before she comes to." "Yes, but we'll try to save her," replied the captain.