w it has risen," said Leslie.

"It has, indeed," said Hall, "and the water is speeding along pretty
fast, too."

"I say," exclaimed a boy, "you don't think there's any danger, do
you?"

"Danger of what?" inquired Hall.

"Why, of Ascot House taking a fancy to sail down the stream."

"I should imagine not," said Hall, looking out at the waters.

"Here comes Arnold, I will ask him what he thinks," said Lynch, as he
saw one of the elder boys approaching.

"Arnold, will you look here a minute."

"What is it you want?" said Arnold, stepping up to the window.

"Do you think there is any danger of the river overflowing?"

Arnold watched the turbulent flow of the waters for a few minutes in
complete silence; the conversation we have reported had attracted
several more of the boys to the window, so that quite a circle
surrounded him, waiting anxiously for his verdict. Arnold knew not
what to think; he had never before seen the river in such a state as
he now beheld it, so full or so rapid; he was half afraid there _was_
danger, but did not care to give his fears expression, for fear of
frightening the boys, but in his secret heart he determined to call
the doctor's attention to its condition, and ask his opinion.

Turning to the group, he said, "Well, boys, I am not competent to give
an opinion, but such a thing has never before occurred, to my
recollection."

"But old Badger, up in the town, says he recollects a flood when he
was a boy, which carried away a few cottages," said one of the group.

"Pooh! old Badger is in his second childhood," said Arnold, trying to
make light of the affair; "he must mean the great deluge."

"Well, I only know what he told me," said the boy.

"Yes, but if you believe all you hear, you will gain some
extraordinary knowledge in the course of your life," said Arnold,
walking away in search of the doctor.

The doctor gave it as his opinion that there was no possible danger
of a flood; but, that all fears might be set at rest, he would give
orders for a thorough examination of the banks of the river, so that
whatever damage the continuous rains had done might at once be
rectified, and all possible danger averted. But at night time, as the
doctor gazed from his bedroom window at the turbulent stream, he could
not but think that he had been somewhat too hasty in his conclusion
regarding the possibility of a flood; but with the mental
determination to order the examination the first th