At two o'clock in the afternoon on May 7, 1915, the passenger ship Lusitania was hit by two torpedoes one after another and was sinking rapidly.The crew lowered the lifeboat as quickly as possible.Women and children lined up to get into lifeboats.Some women cling desperately to their husbands, some children cling desperately to their fathers, others hold their children tightly in their arms.A girl stood alone, she was very young, not yet eighteen.She didn't look afraid, she looked ahead with serious and determined eyes. "please forgive." A man's voice next to her startled her and turned her around.She had noticed that the speaking man had been among first-class passengers on more than one occasion.There was something mysterious about him that sparked the girl's imagination.He keeps silent and does not talk to others.If anyone talks to him, he flatly refuses indifferently.

In addition, he looked nervously when he looked behind him, always giving him a suspicious glance. The girl noticed that he was very anxious at this time.Sweat dripped from his brow, evidently in a state of suppressed terror.However, this man gave her the impression that he is not the kind of person who is afraid of facing death! "What's the matter?" Her serious eyes met his curiously. He stood looking at her hopelessly, hesitantly. "That's the only way," he murmured to himself, "yes, that's the only way!" Then suddenly he asked aloud: "Are you American?"

"yes." "A patriotic American?" The girl's face flushed red. "I don't think you have a right to ask about such things: of course I am:" "Please don't be angry. If you understand that the stakes are high, you won't be angry. However, I have to trust someone, and that person has to be a lady .” "why?" "Because 'women and children come first,'" he said, looking around, lowering his voice. "I have papers--really important papers. They could have made all the difference in the war for the Confederate States. Do you understand? These papers must be salvaged. They are preserved with you than they are with me. There are many chances of getting down. Are you willing to accept these documents?"

The girl held out her hand. "Wait a minute—I must warn you. There could be danger—if I'm being followed. I don't think I've been followed, but who knows? There is danger. Do you have the courage to do it?" The girl smiled. "I'll do fine. I'm really proud to have been chosen by you. What do I do next with these files?" "Watch the papers, I'm going to place an ad in the personnel section of The Times, beginning with 'Crew of Colleagues'. If nothing is posted after three days, well, you know I'm screwed.Then, send this package of materials to the US embassy and place it in the hands of the ambassador.understand? "

"very clear." "Get ready, then—I'm going to say goodbye." He took the girl's hand. "Goodbye. Good luck." he raised his voice. Her hand held the oilcloth bag in his. The Lusitania was irrevocably listed to starboard.Obeying the hasty orders, the girl stepped forward and boarded the lifeboat.