Page:The Great Secret.djvu/68

52 Chiver, and as they looked quickly round they saw him shivering, limp and colourless, with staring eyes, and hair and clothes dripping wet.

"Where have you come from in that state?" inquired Philip.

"I don't know. I cannot remember," said the poor fellow. "I was sitting at the table when it came, and when I woke up I saw the others rush away; but I had no place to go to, therefore I came to you."

"What others?" asked Philip astonished.

"The captain, the passengers," replied the doctor in a dull voice.

"But they have all been killed. Look at their bodies."

"I don't know who these bodies belong to; but they have hidden themselves, for I saw them rush away."

"Then let us follow their example if we mean to live, for the enemy is coming I can hear."

Saying which Philip took the hand of Adela, and followed by the miserable little wet and shivering ship doctor, crawled along a great iron beam that passed directly under their feet, where the torn-up floor left an open gap. A faint glimmering of red light came through the bars and beams from what appeared to be the distant engine-rooms, so that they could see to make their way a [sic]

They crawled on all-fours until they reached a portion where they were securely hidden by the deck that had not been damaged, and here they waited for the course of events.

They had not long to wait. Presently they heard voices above them, and trampling of feet.

"I don't expect that any mortal in the saloon has escaped my sudden-death explosive," said a voice above.

"That is my husband," whispered Adela to Philip.