Arthur woke up in the middle of the night. He looked at D.W. She was asleep beside him. All he could see was the back of her head. Arthur looked over at his parent's bed. Mom and Dad were sound asleep. Arthur glanced at the clock on the dresser. It was 11: 40 pm.

Arthur lay his head down and closed his eyes. Then he heard a sound.

It sounded like an explosion. Then there was a jolt. Arthur sat up. "What was that?" he said. Mom and Dad stirred.

A few minutes later, Arthur heard somebody rushing down the hall. There was a knock on the door.

"All passengers report to the main deck. And wear your life jackets," a man said.

Mom and Dad woke up. Arthur ran and opened the door. "What's happening?" he asked.

The man turned back to Arthur. "All passengers must report to the main deck at once. Captain's orders. Tell your family to dress warmly." Then he hurried to another door.

Arthur turned to his parents. They were climbing out of bed.

D.W. sat up, rubbing her eyes. "Mom…what's going on?"

Mom went to D.W. and pulled her out of bed. She helped D.W. off with her nightgown.

"We have to get dressed," said Mom.

Crewmen went all over, knocking on doors and warning families. George's family also heard the news. George ran down to the Crosswire's room and pounded on the thick door. Mr. Crosswire opened it.

"Mr. Crosswire, you have to get your family on deck. We've hit an iceberg."

Mr. Crosswire yawned. "Don't be ridiculous, sonny. This ship is unsinkable. Go back to bed." He began to close the door.

"But it's the truth! My dad was on deck when it happened. And the engines have stopped," said George.

"Are you really serious?"

"Yes!" said George. "Be sure to dress warmly." Then he started back up the red-carpeted stairs. "And bring your life jackets!"

"Was that George?" asked Muffy.

"He says to get dressed and go up to the deck."

"Why?" asked Mrs. Crosswire.

"He said we hit an iceberg," said Mr. Crosswire.

"We're sinking?" said Muffy. She jumped out of bed and looked through her wardrobe. "We just can't sink! I can't decide what to wear!"

Meanwhile, back in Arthur's stateroom, his family was quickly dressing. Mom and Dad made sure all three children were bundled up nice and warm. Mom dressed up Baby Kate and wrapped her in a warm blanket. Arthur put on his brown wool cap. Dad opened the door and led his family out through the hall.

Other families fled from their rooms and hurried down the hall with Arthur's family. The crowd headed up the stairs. Halfway up the stairway, Arthur stopped.

"Wait a minute! We forgot Pal!" said Arthur. He turned and started back down the stairs to the stateroom.

"Arthur!" Mom shouted.

"I have to get Pal!"

Arthur ran down the now empty hallway to his stateroom. He ran through the open door and began to search frantically for Pal.

"Pal! Here, boy!" Arthur looked in the closet and under the beds. He noticed a lump under a blanket on his bed. Arthur threw the blanket off and found Pal lying there asleep. He picked up Pal, ran out of the stateroom, and ran for the stairs.

Arthur ran as fast as he could up the high staircase, carrying Pal in his arms. Heart-pounding, he reached the top and went through the door leading to the deck.

It was a cold night. Arthur looked for his parents through the crowd. "Mom! Dad!"

"Arthur!" a voice called. Dad hurried towards Arthur and grabbed his arm. He pulled Arthur through the crowd and to the edge of the deck where women and children were being put into a lifeboat.

Dad kissed each of his children and hugged and kissed his wife. A crewman picked up Arthur and put him in the lifeboat. Then he grabbed D.W. and put her in. Dad held Baby Kate so Mom could climb into the lifeboat. Then Dad kissed Kate on the cheek and gave her back to Mom, who sat down between Arthur and D.W.

Then the lifeboat lowered. But Dad was still standing on the deck of the ship.

"Dad! Aren't you coming?" yelled Arthur.

"Men go in later boats!" yelled Dad, from above.

The lifeboat lowered down to the water. Arthur held Pal in his lap. Mom wrapped Kate up tighter in the blanket, so all that could be seen was a small face. An icy wind blew across the boat. D.W. shivered. Mom put her arm around D.W. Arthur held Pal close as he looked at the other people in the lifeboat. He spotted Francine sitting with her mom and sister. Her head was low and her eyes were closed. She must be worried for her dad, thought Arthur.

All the people in the lifeboat were women and kids, except for the crewmen rowing the boat.