ed the stream
stood firm and so did the residences at Aldercliffe and Pine Lea, both
of which were fortunately situated on high ground.

Ted had not made his escape from his little camp a moment too soon, for
while he stood looking out on the freshet from one of the attic windows
at Pine Lea, he shivered to behold his little hut bob past him amid the
rushing waters and drift into an eddy on the opposite shore along with
a mass of uprooted pines.

A sob burst from him.

"It's gone, Mr. Hazen--our little house!" he murmured brokenly to the
young tutor who was standing beside him. "We never shall see it again."

"You mustn't take it so to heart, Ted," the teacher answered, laying
his hand sympathetically on the lad's shoulder. "Suppose you had been
in it and borne away to almost certain death. That would have been a
calamity indeed. What is an empty boathouse when we consider how many
people are to suffer actual financial loss and perhaps forfeit
everything they have, as a result of this tragedy. The villagers who
live along the river will lose practically everything they own--boats,
poultry, barns; and many of them both houses and furniture. We all
loved the shack; but it is not as if its destruction left you with no
other roof above your head. You can stay at Aldercliffe, Pine Lea, or
join your family at Freeman's Falls. Three shelters are open to you.
But these poor souls in the town----"

"I had not thought about the villagers," blushed Ted.

"The Fernalds have been in the settlement since dawn and along with
every man they could summon have been working to save life and
property. If I had not had to stay here with Laurie, I should have gone
to help, too."

Ted hung his head.

"I'm ashamed to have been so selfish," said he. "Instead of thinking
only of myself, I ought to have been lending a hand to aid somebody
else. It was rotten of me. Why can't I go down to the village now?
There must be things I can do. Certainly I'm no use here."

"No, there is nothing to be done here," the tutor agreed. "If you could
stay with Laurie and calm him down there would be some sense in your
remaining; but as it is, I don't see why you shouldn't go along to the
town and fill in wherever you can. I fancy there will be plenty to do.
The Fernalds, Wharton, Stevens, and the rest of the men are moving the
families who lived along the water front out of their houses and into
others. All our trucks and cars are busy at the job."