Closer examination showed that it was the cutter, which, when full of women and children, had been fastened to the vessel and dragged down with her as she sank.

At a certain depth the pressure of the water had been too great and had torn the ring in the bow bodily out of her, so that she returned to the surface.

But those in her did not return--at least, not yet.

Once more, two or three days hence, they would arise from the watery depths and look upon the skies with eyes that could not see, and then vanish for ever.
Turning from this awful and most moving sight, they rowed slowly through quantities of floating wreckage--barrels, hencoops (in one of these they found two drowned fowls, which they secured), and many other articles, such as oars and wicker deck-chairs--and began to shout vigorously in the hope of attracting the attention of the survivors in the other boat, which they imagined could not be far off.

Their efforts, however, proved fruitless, owing to the thickness of the fog; and in the considerable sea which was running it was impossible to see more than twenty yards or so.
Also, what between the wind, and the wash and turmoil of the water, the sound of their voices did not travel far.