The coal dust, suspended in the air of the hold, had glowed dull-red at the moment of the explosion. In the twinkling of an eye, in a fraction of a second, I was sprawling full length on the cargo. I picked myself up and scrambled out. It was quick like a rebound. The deck was a wilderness of smashed timber, lying crosswise like trees in a wood after a hurricane. An immense curtain of soiled rags waved gently before me. I thought, the masts will be toppling over directly; and to get out of the way bolted on all fours toward the poop-ladder. The first person I saw was Mahon, with eyes like saucers, his mouth open, and the long white hair standing straight on end round his head like a silver halo. He was just about to go down when the sight of the main deck changing into splinters before his eyes, petrified him on the top step.