le-bones,
stray bits of fat and tripe, which fell to his lot, and proudly
exhibiting himself in one of the minister's cast-off black coats, which
contrasted rather oddly with a pair of ornamented blue leggings and a
scarlet sash. When not busy in the kitchen, he went about among the
homeless settlers assembled round the mission, sometimes rendering a
little help, oftener causing a good deal of obstruction, and vainly
endeavouring to obtain beer, while he meditated sadly now and then on
his failure in the brewing line.

At the end of these two days, however, a great change took place at the
mission station, for the flood continued steadily to increase until it
reached the church and parsonage, and drove the hundreds of people who
had assembled there away to the more distant knolls on the plains. Mr
Cockran, with his household and Sabbath scholars, besides a few of the
people, resolved to stick to the church as long as it should stick to
the ground, and Peegwish remained with them. He had unbounded
confidence in the good missionary, and still more unbounded confidence
in the resources of the parsonage kitchen. Wildcat was similarly
impressed.

At last the water rose to the church itself and beat against the
foundations of the parsonage, for the current was very strong and had
carried away some of the fences. All the people were thus obliged to
take refuge in the church itself, or in the parsonage.

On the 13th of May there were very few dry spots visible on or near the
banks of the Red River. Dozens of houses had been carried away, and
were either destroyed or stranded on localities far from their original
sites. As far as the eye could reach, the whole region had been
converted into a mighty lake, or rather sea; for in the direction of the
plains the waters seemed to join the horizon. Everywhere this sea was
studded with islets and knolls, which grew fewer and smaller as the
floods increased. Here and there piles of floating firewood looked like
boats with square-sails in the distance, while deserted huts passed over
the plains with the stream like fleets of Noah's arks!

When the water began to touch the parsonage, its owner gave orders to
collect timber and make preparation for the erection of a strong stage
as a final place of refuge.

"Come," said he to Peegwish, when his orders were being carried out;
"come, get your canoe, Peegwish, and we will pay a visit to the poor
fellows on the knoll up the rive