"How hungry they are!" thought Mildred, "and how they tease one
another!" She then remembered having read of men starving in a boat at
sea, who became as selfish as these animals in snatching from one
another their last remaining morsels of food. She hoped that she and
Oliver should not be starved, at last, in the middle of this flood: but
if they were, she did not believe that Oliver and she could ever snatch
food from each other, or help themselves before Geordie, whatever Roger
might do, or even Ailwin. Ailwin was very kind and good-tempered; but
then she was apt to be so very hungry! However, there was no occasion
to think of want of food yet. The meal which had been wetted, round the
sides and under the lid of the chest, served well to feed the fowls; and
they seemed to find something worth picking up in the mud and slime that
the waters had left behind as they sank. The poor sow had farrowed too.
She and her little pigs were found almost dead with hunger and wet: but
the meal-chest had come just in time to save them. Ailwin had said it
was worth while to spare them some of the meal; for the little pigs, if
their mother was well fed, would give them many a good dinner. There
was no occasion to fear want of food at present.

The boys were on their raft in the middle of the stream, working away
with their broad paddles, evidently wishing to catch something which was
floating down. Mildred could see only a small tree bobbing about,
sometimes showing its roots above water, and sometimes its leafy
branches. What could they want with a young tree, so well off as they
were for drier fire-wood than it would make? They were determined to
have it, it was clear; for Roger threw down his paddle as they neared
the tree, caught up a long rope, and gave it a cast towards the
branching top as the rope went through the air, Mildred saw that it had
a noose at the end. The noose caught:--the tree gave a topple in the
water, when it found itself stopped in its course with a jerk; and the
boys set up a shout as they pulled for the house, hauling in their prize
after them.

Mildred ran down the stairs as far as she dared,--almost to the very
brink of the water. There she was near enough to see and hear what was
doing. The tree was an apple-tree; and though the ripest apples were
gone, a good many were left, which would be a treat when cooked. The
boys saw her watching them, and Roger said it was not fair that she
should