His valise was dashed against him, but
after the first concussion there was no further violent movement, and,
as soon as he was able to recover himself, he had no difficulty in
getting to his feet. The terrible cries which continued, reinforced by
a babel of screams and confused noises, seemed to him to come from some
stateroom near at hand. It was evident that some one had been seriously
hurt in the collision which must have occurred. The trampling of feet,
the voices of men and women and children, the sound of the wind and of
the water, and those formless noises which are the more terrifying
because it is impossible to tell whence they arise, filled the air on
every side, and told Fenton that some serious calamity had befallen the
steamer.
He felt about in the darkness for his clothing, then pulled open the
shutter hastily, and dressed himself in the dim light as well as he was
able. He was excited but not panic-stricken, yet the time seemed long,
although in reality it was but a few moments before he was ready to
open his door into the saloon. As he came out he had a startled
impression of finding himself in an unexpected place, and then he
realized that the side of the boat had been broken in clean through the
range of staterooms, and that he was looking out into the heavy wall of
fog through a hole made by the collision.
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