even before they were swung clear, and when the ship's officers
drove them off, the poor souls, not being able to understand,
believed they were being sacrificed for the safety of the other
passengers. So each was fighting, as he thought, for his life and
for the lives of his wife and children. At the edge of the
scrimmage I dragged out two women who had been knocked off their
feet and who were in danger of being trampled. But neither was the
woman I sought. In the half-darkness I saw one of the immigrants,
a girl with a 'kerchief on her head, struggling with her life-belt.
A stoker, as he raced past, seized it and made for the rail. In my
turn I took it from him, and he fought for it, shouting:

"It's every man for himself now!"

"All right," I said, for I was excited and angry, "look out for
YOURSELF then!" I hit him on the chin, and he let go of the life-
belt and dropped.

I heard at my elbow a low, excited laugh, and a voice said: "Well
bowled! You never learned that in an office." I turned and saw
the lovely lady. I tossed the immigrant girl her life-belt, and as
though I had known Lady Moya all my life I took her by the hand and
dragged her after me down the deck.

"You come with me!" I commanded. I found that I was trembling and
that a weight of anxiety of which I had not been conscious had been
lifted. I found I was still holding her hand and pressing it in my
own. "Thank God!" I said. "I thought I had lost you!"

"Lost me!" repeated Lady Moya. But she made no comment. "I must