The bustle and confusion had increased.

There were people hurrying about looking for friends, and there were people scribbling off excited farewell messages at the telegraph office.

The situation was working up to its climax.

An observing looker-on might catch glimpses of emotional scenes.

Many of the passengers were already on board, parties of them accompanied by their friends were making their way up the gangplank.
Salter had just been watching a luxuriously cared-for little invalid woman being carried on deck in a reclining chair, when his attention was attracted by the sound of trampling hoofs and rolling wheels.