Those huge murderous waves already had swept many from the ship.

A score of sailors and as many courageous soldiers were in the churn of the merciless waters.
Crash! A horrid grating sound, splintering! Then the instantaneous shock, the awful, stunning force of a frightful blow and a shipful of human beings were flung violently in all directions, many never to rise again.

The _Tempest Queen_ had struck! The last chance was gone! "My God!" groaned the captain.

"It's all over!" Then he roared: "All hands! All hands! Stations! To the boats! Stand back there! Women first!" Ridgeway, dimly realizing that the end had come, staggered to his feet and instinctively reached for the body of the woman who lay before him.
He did not know that she was conscious, nor did he know whether the ship was afloat or sinking.

A gigantic wave swept over her, tons of water pouring in upon them.