ar sky the flood was still a sight to behold as
it rolled swiftly by the camp, its smooth yellow surface dotted with
tangled grasses and driftwood.

As far as the boys could see was high and hilly land, but there was no
doubt that the lowlands were inundated far on each side of the creek.
The rains had been unusually heavy.

CHAPTER XXXII

THE BROKEN DAM

By nine o'clock the Jolly Rovers were afloat--adrift would be a better
word, since the swift current made the paddles unnecessary, except for a
guiding touch now and then. It did not occur to the boys to delay their
departure on account of the flood. They were tired of the camping place,
and moreover the high water would likely be a help rather than a
hindrance.

They found it keenly exhilarating to lean lazily back in their canoes
and be carried at a whirling pace around bend after bend. There was just
enough danger from submerged islands and reefs, and floating _debris_,
to add spice to the enjoyment.

Here and there, where the creek passed through low country, the fields
were inundated, and only the tops of the fences could be seen above the
water.

A mile or two below camp a sudden sweep of the channel brought into view
a red wooden bridge. The creek, being wide at this point, the bridge was
supported in the center by a narrow, squarely built pier.

As the boys came closer they saw that the pier had been shattered by
some terrific power. The whole face of it was torn away, and the frail
portion that remained seemed in danger of being carried off by the
yellow flood that was surging against it. Two men had climbed down from
an opening in the bridge, and were busy among the loose stones,
evidently trying to fit them into place again. From the left shore a
little knot of people was watching the operation.

Naturally the boys were curious to know what it meant, and when they
drew near they slackened the speed of the canoes by backing water
vigorously with their paddles.

"Did the flood do all that damage?" asked Ned.

"No," answered one of the men, stopping work to look up, "the ice did it
last winter, and the commissioners neglected to have it repaired. A
pretty bill they're likely to have to pay for their carelessness. It's
too late to do anything now."

"That's so," assented the other man; "we may as well stop work and get
out of this."

"But what danger are you afraid of now?" resumed Ned. "The pier has
stood the worst of the flood and the