eaker's brim" causes the overflow
of the cup. The undulations of the water, under the floor and over it,
contributed still further to the feeling; and she hurried to the lounge
to save herself from falling. Here she threw herself beside Willie, and
cried a little, quietly, under cover of her shawl.

"There she goes! Well, this isn't pleasant, noways," said Chillis, as
the house, freed with a final crash from impediments, swayed about
unsteadily, impelled by wind and water. "I was sayin', a bit ago, that
we could not git to the landin', at present. There are three ways o'
choosin', though, which are these: to stay where we are; to git into the
boat, an' let the house take its chances; or to try to git to my cabin,
where we would be safe an' could keep warm."

"How long would it take us to get to your house?" asked Mrs. Smiley,
from under her shawl.

"An hour, mebbe. We should have to feel our way."

Mrs. Smiley reflected. Sitting out in an open boat, without trying to do
anything, would be horrible; staying where she was would be hardly less
so. It would be six or seven hours still to daylight. There was no
chance of the storm abating, though the water must recede after
midnight.

"Let us go," she said, sitting up. "You will not desert _me_, I know;
and why should I keep you here all night, in anxiety and peril? Once at
home, you can rest and nurse yourself."

"So be it; an' God help us!"

"Amen!"

Chillis opened the door and looked out, placing a light first in the
window. Then coming back for a basin, he waded out, bailed his boat,
and, unfastening the chain, hauled it alongside the doorway. Mrs. Smiley
had hastily put some provisions into a tin bucket, with a cover, and
some things for Willie into another, and stood holding them, ready to be
stowed away.

"You will have to take the tiller," said Chillis, placing the buckets
safely in the boat.

"I meant to take an oar," said she.

"If you know how to steer, it will be better for me to pull alone. Now,
let us have the boy, right in the bottom here, with plenty o' blankets
under and over him; the same for yourself. The lanterns--so. Now, jump
in!"

"The fire is dead on the hearth," she said, looking back through the
empty house, and across the gap of water showing through the broken
wall. "What a horrible scene! God sent you, Mr. Chillis, to help me live
through it."

"I believe he did. Are you quite ready?"

"Quite; only tell me what I must do. I wi