only bubbled up through the bottom, but
completely flowed over it. To turn round was impossible, not only from
the construction of the waggon, but from the pressure of water, and in
all probability had the attempt been made an overturn would have been
the consequence.

My mother suppressed her fears, but grasped me tighter than ever.
Presently I heard a dull roar, and looking up the river I saw a
white-crested wave--so it appeared--curling down upon us. My father saw
it too. He leapt from the waggon into the water, which reached almost
up to his shoulders, and seizing the horses' heads, endeavoured to drag
them forward. Every instant the current became stronger and deeper and
deeper. At last it seemed as if the waggon must inevitably be swept
away down the stream. Just then I heard a shout from the shore, where I
saw a black man running rapidly towards us. Without stopping a moment
he rushed into the water, wading as far as the depth would allow him,
then he struck out swimming, and quickly reached the horses' heads.

"Here, massa stranger, nebber fear, dis boy help you," he exclaimed, and
seizing the bridle of one of the animals he pointed to a spot, a little
lower down the bank. My father, being taller than the negro, was still
able, though with difficulty, to keep his feet, and grasping the bridle
of the other horse, he followed the advice he had received. Before,
however, we had gone far, the wave was upon us. The next instant the
waggon was lifted up and jerked violently round. I had until then been
holding on, but how it happened I cannot tell, for I felt myself
suddenly thrown into the water. I heard my mother's shriek of frantic
despair, and my father shouted to her to hold on for her life, while he
dragged forward the horses, whose feet almost the next moment must have
touched the firm ground.

"Me save him!" cried the black, "go on, massa stranger, go on, all safe
now," and the brave fellow, relinquishing his hold of the horse, which
he left to my father's guidance, swam off to where I was struggling in
the seething water. With one arm he seized me round the waist, and
keeping my head above the surface, struck out once more towards the
bank. His feet fortunately soon regained the ground, and wading on
while he pressed with all his might against the current, he carried me
safely in his arms to the bank. Having placed me on the grass, he
hastened back to assist my father in dragging up the waggo