mill
behind her; and in that instant there was a crack and a roar, a mighty
rush that swept her from her feet and washed away the lantern. Nothing
saved her but the trees on the bank. She struck one, clung to it,
pulled herself higher, and in the blackness gripped the tree, while she
heard the dam going gradually after the first break.

There was no use to scream, no one could have heard her. The storm
raved on; Kate clung to her tree, with each flash of lightning trying
to see the dam. At last she saw that it was not all gone. She was not
much concerned about herself. She knew the tree would hold. Eagerly
she strained her eyes toward the dam. She could feel the water dropping
lower, while the roar subsided to a wild rush, and with flashes of
lightning she could see what she thought was at least half of the dam
holding firm. By that time Kate began to chill. She wrapped her arms
around the tree, and pressing her cheek against the rough bark, she
cried as hard as she could and did not care. God would not hear; the
neighbours could not. She shook and cried until she was worn out. By
that time the water was only a muddy flow around her ankles; if she had
a light she could wade back to the bridge and reach home. But if she
missed the bridge and went into the ravine, the current would be too
strong for her. She held with one arm and tried to wipe her face with
the other hand. "What a fool to cry!" she said. "As if there were any
more water needed here!"

Then she saw a light in the house, and the figures of the children,
carrying it from room to room, so she knew that one of them had
awakened for a drink, or with the storm, and they had missed her. Then
she could see them at the front door, Adam's sturdy feet planted widely
apart, bracing him, as he held up the lamp which flickered in the wind.
Then she could hear his voice shouting: "Mother!" Instantly Kate
answered. Then she was sorry she had, for both of them began to scream
wildly. There was a second of that, then even the children realized
its futility.

"She is out there in the water, WE GOT TO GET HER," said Adam. "We got
to do it!"

He started with the light held high. The wind blew it out. They had
to go back to relight it. Kate knew they would burn their fingers, and
she prayed they would not set the house on fire. When the light showed
again, at the top of her lungs she screamed: "Adam, set the broom on
fire and carry it to the end of