He stopped on his way to arouse Eradicate but found that he and all the colored persons had left their staterooms. A few seconds later Tom was on deck.
"It's all right, now! It's all right!" several officers were calling. There is no danger. Go back to your staterooms. The danger is all over."
"Is the ship sinking?"
"What happened?"
"Are we on fire?"
"Are you sure there's no danger?"
These were only a few of the questions that were flying about, and the officers answered them as best they could.
"We hit a derelict, or some bit of wreckage," explained the first mate, when he could command silence. "There is a slight hole below the water-line, but the bulkheads have been closed and there is not the slightest danger."
"Are we going to turn back for New York?" asked one woman.
"No, certainly not. We're going right on as soon as a slight break to one of the engines can be repaired. We are in no danger. Only a little water came in before the automatic bulkheads were shut. We haven't even a list to one side. Now please clear the decks and go back to bed."
It took more urging, but finally the passengers
