His voice was low--was lower; but as clear as a bell in its
distinctness; as wise in its directions as collected thought could make
it. Some of the steerage passengers were helping; but more were dumb and
motionless with affright. In that dead silence was heard a low wail of
sorrow, as of numbers whose power was crushed out of them by that awful
terror. Edward still held his clutch of Margaret's arm.
"Be ready!" said he, in a fierce whisper.
The fire sprung up along the main-mast, and did not sink or disappear
again. They knew then that all the mad efforts made by some few below to
extinguish it were in vain; and then went up the prayers of hundreds, in
mortal agony of fear:
"Lord! have mercy upon us!"
Not in quiet calm of village church did ever such a pitiful cry go up to
heaven; it was like one voice--like the day of judgment in the presence of
the Lord.
And after that there was no more silence; but a confusion of terrible
farewells, and wild cries of affright, and purposeless rushes hither and
thither.
The boats were down, rocking on the sea. The captain spoke:
"Put the children in first; they are the most helpless."
One or two stout sailors stood in the boats to receive them. Edward drew
nearer and nearer to the gangway, pulling Maggie with him. She was almost
pressed to death, and stifled. Close in her ear, she heard a woman praying
to herself.
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