eld. The
buildings here were still under the dam--a mass of water fifty feet in
height rose above them, would come through if that portion of the dam
broke. But at the time only the suction of the farther U, where the
break was made, caused a gentle current to be visible at this side of
the backwater. If the dam held, it would be quite a time before the
level of the lake above would be appreciably altered. Slowly, inch by
inch, each inch representing none might say how much in power of ruin,
it would sink, and in time reveal the ancient bed of the river. If the
remnant of the dam held, that would be true. Happy the human race
aspiring to erect such a barrier, that so few suffered in this rebirth
of the wilderness. Had the settlements been thick below, all must have
perished. The telephone was out, there was no way for a messenger to
get out ahead of the flood. Only the quick widening of the valley,
below the canyon's lower end, eased down the volume of the flood so
that it was less destructive. There was no settlement at all in the
canyon proper.

After the first pause of horror men here at the broken dam began to
bestir themselves. Discipline was a thing forgotten, and _sauve qui
peut_ was the law. It was some time before Doctor Barnes pulled
himself together and began to try to get his men in hand. He ordered
them to the lower end of the street, to drive the people out of their
houses without an instant's delay; for none might say at what time the
break in the dam would increase, in which case it soon would be too
late for any hope. He himself hastened at last to the house where the
two women were, Wid Gardner with him, after he had issued general
orders for all the men to get up the trail above the dam as soon as
possible.

"Come out!" he cried as he opened the door. Mary Gage and Annie came
arm in arm, both of them hysterical now.

"It's all gone," said Doctor Barnes, not even bitterly, but calmly
after all. "It's out. The dam's gone."

"Gone? What does it mean? Where shall we go? Is there danger?"
These questions came all at once from the two women. The roar of the
waters drowned their voices.

"Come quick! Get into my car. It's only a step up the grade--we'll be
safe on the upper level."

They came, Mary Gage still with her bandages in place, stumbling,
terrified, but leading the little dog, Tim, who cringed down in curious
terror of his own. Doctor Barnes hurried them, guided them,