age, leaning against her side. A bottle and a glass on
the ground near the man gave the spectators, as it had doubtless given
him, some degree of comfort. Above a score of sheep were standing
around, or wading, or swimming in the shallows. Three cows and a small
horse picking at a broken rick of straw that seemed to be half afloat,
were also grouped with the family. Dreading that they must all be swept
off, if not soon relieved, the gentlemen hastened to the offices, and
looked anxiously out from the top of the tower for a boat. At last they
had the satisfaction to see one launched from the garden at Earnhill,
about a mile below. The boat had been conveyed by a pair of horses, and
had only just arrived. It was nobly manned by three volunteers, and they
proceeded at once to the rescue of a family who were in a most perilous
situation in the island opposite to Earnhill. The gentlemen on the tower
watched the motions of this boat with the liveliest interest. They saw
it tugging up till it was hid from them by the wood. Again it was seen
beyond, and soon it dashed into the main stream and disappeared again
behind the wood, with a velocity so fearful that they concluded it was
lost. But in a moment it again showed itself, and the brave fellows were
seen plying their oars across the submerged island of Earnhill, making
for John Smith's cottage; the thatch and a small part of the side walls
of which were visible above the water. The poor inmates were dragged out
of the windows from under the water, having been obliged to duck within
ere they could effect their escape. The boat then swept down the stream
towards a place called 'The Lakes,' where John Smith, his wife, and her
mother were safely landed.

The boat was next conveyed by the horses to a point from which it was
launched for the rescue of the Kerrs. Having pulled up as far as they
could in the still water, they approached the desperate current, and
fearlessly dashed into its tumultuous waves. For a moment the spectators
were in the most anxious doubt as to the result; for, though none could
pull a stronger oar, yet the boat in crossing a distance equal to its own
length was swept down 200 yards. Ten yards more would have dashed them
to atoms on the lower stone wall. But they were now in comparatively
quiet water; and availing themselves of this, they pulled up again to the
park, in the space between two currents, and passed, with a little less
difficult