ake of ice about five feet thick, with a point like a church
spire, was seen attempting, as it were, to leap the lower end of the
garden-fence. It failed; but on making a second attempt was more
successful. The fence went slowly down, and the spire laid its head
among the vegetables, or rather on the spot where the vegetables would
have been had the season been propitious. It was accompanied by a rush
of water.

The sight was viewed with comparative composure by old Mr Ravenshaw,
but his better half took it less quietly, and declared that they would
all be drowned.

"I hope not!" exclaimed Miss Trim fervently, clasping her hands.

"We're high and dry just now, Louis," said Mr Ravenshaw gravely, "but
Willow Creek won't be a place of refuge long if the rise goes on at this
rate. See, my neighbour is beginning to show signs of uneasiness,
though the ground on which he stands is not much lower than my own."

As he spoke, the old fur-trader pointed to the house of Angus Macdonald,
where a large cart was being loaded with his property.

Angus himself entered at the moment to beg leave to remove some of his
valuables to his friend's barn.

"It iss not the danger, you see, Muster Ruvnshaw, that troubles me; it
iss the watter. There are some things, as the leddies fery well know,
will pe quite destroyed py watter, an' it is puttin' them out of harm's
way that I will pe after."

"Put whatever you like in the barn, Macdonald," said Mr Ravenshaw
promptly; "Elsie and I have had it and the other outhouses prepared.
You are heartily welcome. I hope, however, that the water won't rise
much higher."

"The watter will rise higher, Muster Ruvnshaw," returned Angus, with the
decision of an oracle; "an' it will pe goot for us if it will leave our
houses standin' where they are. Peegwish will be tellin' me that; an'
Peegwish knows what he iss apout when he is not trunk, whatever."

Peegwish did indeed know what he was about. At the very time that Angus
was speaking about him, Peegwish, feeling convinced that Macdonald's
house was in danger, was on his way to the mission station, which he
knew to be a place of greater safety, and where he felt sure of a
welcome, for the Reverend Mr Cockran--in charge at the time--had a
weakness for the old hypocrite, and entertained strong hopes of bringing
about his reformation. For two days he stayed in the parsonage kitchen,
smoking his pipe, revelling in the odds and ends, such as knuck