The Wreck of the Titan

Book Excerpt: ...there rang out overhead a startling cry from the crow's-nest: "Something ahead, sir--can't make it out."The first officer sprang to the engine-room telegraph and grasped the lever. "Sing out what you see," he roared."Hard aport, sir--ship on the starboard tack--dead ahead," came the cry."Port your wheel--hard over," repeated the first officer to the quartermaster at the helm--who answered and obeyed. Nothing as yet could be seen from the bridge. The powerful steering-engine in the stern ground the rudder over; but before three degrees on the compass card were traversed by the lubber's-point, a seeming thickening of the darkness and fog ahead resolved itself into the square sails of a deep-laden ship, crossing the Titan's bow, not half her length away."H--l and d--" growled the first officer. "Steady on your course, quartermaster," he shouted. "Stand from under on deck." He turned a lever which closed compartments, pushed a button marked--"Captain's Room," and cr..