`Ididnot，’saidJim。`Iwastoldtocallnooneandtomakenonoiseforfearofcreatingapanic。Ithoughttheprecautionreasonable。Itookoneofthelampsthatwerehungundertheawningsandwentforward。AfteropeningtheforepeakhatchIheardsplashingthere。Iloweredthenthelampthewholedriftofitslanyard，andsawthattheforepeakwasmorethanhalffullofwateralready。Iknewthentheremustbeabigholebelowthewater-line。’Hepaused。
`Yes，’saidthebigassessor，withadreamysmileattheblotting-pad；
hisfingersplayedincessantly，touchingthepaperwithoutnoise。
`Ididnotthinkofdangerjustthen。Imighthavebeenalittlestartled；
allthishappenedinsuchaquietwayandsoverysuddenly。Iknewtherewasnootherbulkheadintheshipbutthecollisionbulkheadseparatingtheforepeakfromtheforehold。Iwentbacktotellthecaptain。Icameuponthesecondengineergettingupatthefootofthebridge-ladder：heseemeddazed，andtoldmehethoughthisleftarmwasbroken；hehadslippedonthetopstepwhengettingdownwhileIwasforward。Heexclaimed，“MyGod!Thatrottenbulkhead’llgivewayinaminute，andthedamnedthingwillgodownunderuslikealumpoflead。’Hepushedmeawaywithhisrightarmandranbeforemeuptheladder，shoutingasheclimbed。Hisleftarmhungbyhisside。Ifollowedupintimetoseethecaptainrushathimandknockhimdownflatonhisback。Hedidnotstrikehimagain：