to prove correct, for as we sat there,
with evening creeping on, it was plain to see that the water was still
rising--very slowly, but creeping steadily on. At first it was only
level with the dormer window; then by slow degrees it was half way up;
and as darkness was coming on, the top of the window was nearly reached.

The roof was high in pitch, so that we were well out of the reach of the
cold current as yet; but calculating by the rate of advance, it was
plain that before many hours had passed the water would have risen to
us; and the question my father had to ask us all was, whether we should
stay there in the hope that at any time the highest point of the flood
might have been reached, or try and swim at once to the great cypress,
and take refuge among its boughs.

"What do you say, Morgan?" said my father at last. "Shall we go or
stay?"

"Don't know what to say, sir. We are dry now, but if we swim to the
tree we shall all be drenched, except these two blacks, and they can
easily wring out their things. Then it means sitting in our wet clothes
half perished through the night. I don't so much mind, but it would be
terrible for her."

"Don't study me, sir, please," said Sarah, firmly. "Do what is for the
best."

"I think what you say is right, Morgan. We can but swim to the tree
when the water rises too high for us to stay here longer."

"But you don't really think it'll get any higher, sir, do you?"

"I am afraid to say what I think," replied my father. "We are in a vast
continent whose rivers are enormous. You see the water is still
rising."

"Oh yes, sir, it's still rising," grumbled Morgan; "but I wish it would
keep still. Going to stop or go, sir? If we go it had better be at
once."

"We will stay," said my father; and as terrible a vigil as ever poor
creatures kept commenced.

Fortunately for us the night was glorious, and as the last gleam of
daylight passed away, the great stars came out rapidly, till the
darkened heavens were one blaze of splendour, while the scene was made
more grand by the glittering being reflected from the calm surface of
the waters all around, till we seemed to be sitting there in the midst
of a sea of gold, with blackened figures standing up dotted here and
there, and beyond them the dark line of the forest.

The silence for a time was awful, for the current now ran very slowly,
and the rise of the water was so insidious that it could hardly be
perceived.