Dorothy. "What are you
getting up in the middle of the night for?"

"Well, I guess it's time somebody's up. Who's that man driving off our
cows?"

"Goosey! It's Walter Evesham's man. He came for mother and all of us,
and he's taken old John and the cows to save us so much foddering."

"Ain't we going too?"

"I don't see why we should, just because there happens to be a little
water in the kitchen. I've often seen it come in there before."

"Well, thee never saw anything like _this_ before--nor anybody else,
either," said Shep.

"I don't care," said Reuby; "I wish there'd come a reg'lar flood. We
could climb up in the mill-loft and go sailin' down over Jordan's
meadows. Wouldn't Luke Jordan open that big mouth of his to see us
heave in sight about cock-crow--three sheets in the wind, and the old
tackle a-swingin'!"

"Do hush!" said Dorothy. "We may have to try it yet."

"There's an awful roarin' from our window," said Shep. "Thee can't half
hear it down here. Come out on the stoop. The old ponds have got their
dander up this time."

They opened the door and listened, standing together on the low step.
There was, indeed, a hoarse murmur from the hills which grew louder as
they listened.

"Now she's comin'! There goes the stable-door! There was only one hinge
left, anyway," said Reuby. "Mighty! Look at that wave!"

It crashed through the gate, swept across the garden, and broke at
their feet, sending a thin sheet of water over the floor and stoop.

"Now it's gone into the entry. Why didn't thee shut the door, Shep?"

"Well, I think we'd better clear out, anyhow. Let's go over to the
mill. Say, Dorothy, sha'n't we?"

"Wait. There comes another wave!"

The second onset was not so violent, but they hastened to gather
together a few blankets, and the boys filled their pockets, with a
delightful sense of unusualness and peril, almost equal to a shipwreck
or an attack by Indians. Dorothy took her unlucky chickens under her
cloak and they made a rush, all together, across the road and up the
slope to the mill.

"Why didn't we think to bring a lantern?" said Dorothy, as they huddled
together on the platform of the scale. "Will _thee_ go back after one,
Shep?"

"If Reuby'll go, too."

"Well, _my_ legs are wet enough now! What's the use of a lantern?
Mighty Moses! What's that?"

"The old mill's got under weigh!" cried Shep. "_She's_ going to tune up
for Kingdom Come!"

A furious head of water was rushing