's not true," said Lambert.

"True or false," rejoined Flett, resuming his work, "it's time for me to
clear out o' this."

Forsaking the road, which he had hitherto attempted to follow, Lambert
now stretched out at full gallop into the plains. He came to a small
creek and found that the simple wooden bridge had been washed away, and
that the waters of the river were driving its tiny current in the wrong
direction. In a fit of impatience he applied the whip to his steed,
which, being a fiery one, rushed furiously at the creek. Fire does not
necessarily give an untrained horse power to leap. The animal made an
awkward attempt to stop, failed, made a still more awkward attempt to
jump, failed again, and stumbled headlong into the creek, out of which
he and his master scrambled on the opposite side.

Lambert shook himself, laughed, leaped into the saddle, and went off
again at full speed. He came to the mission station, but did not stop
there. It still stood high above the waters, and was crowded with
settlers. Not far from it was a spot of rising ground, which was
covered with more than a hundred tents and wigwams belonging to Canadian
and half-breed families. Passing on, he came upon other scenes of
destruction, and finally arrived at the abode of old Mr Ravenshaw. It,
like the mission premises, still stood high above the rising flood. The
family were assembled in the chief sitting-room, old Ravenshaw enjoying
a pipe, while the ladies were variously occupied around him.

"You've heard the report brought by the Indian about the flood, I
fancy?"

"Oh, yes; but I give no ear to reports," said the old gentleman,
emitting an indignant puff of smoke; "they often end like _that_."

"True; nevertheless, it's as well to be prepared," said Lambert, with a
glance at Elsie and Cora, who sat together near the window; "and I've
come to beg for house-room for my goods and chattels, for the old house
is not so safe as I had thought."

"There's plenty of room in the barn for people in distress," said Elsie,
with a glance at her sister.

"Or in the cow-house," added Cora, with a laugh and a slight toss of her
head; "we've had the cattle removed on purpose to make room for you."

"How considerate! And the cow-house of Willow Creek, with its pleasant
associations, is a palace compared to the hall of any other mansion,"
said the gallant Louis.

A crash was heard outside just then. On looking from the windows, a
great c