cles of clothing, packed up in readiness for a move.

"I should have despatched a party with provisions and ammunition to a
place of safety up the side of the cliff, had I not hoped that before
the flood set in the gale would have abated," observed my father; "and I
even now think that it might be the most prudent course. I will go down
once more and ascertain if the waters are still rising; and if they are,
it will be wise to start at once, though I regret that you and Edith
should be exposed to the rain and wind."

My father said this as we were collected in the sitting-room of our
house.

Mudge just then came in, the rain pouring off his hat. "I have secured
the boat with a long warp," he said, "and loaded her with as many of our
stores as I thought she could safely carry, so that when the waters
subside I trust that these may at all events be preserved. I am afraid,
sir, that we must make a start; the water has got to within a foot of
the top of the bank, and if a heavy sea were to come rolling up from the
mouth of the river it might sweep over the whole settlement."

"We will no longer delay, then," said my father; "tell the men to get
ready."

We all of us accordingly, loading ourselves with the packages we had
prepared--my mother, indeed, insisting on carrying a pretty heavy
bundle--followed my father out of the house. Mudge summoned the men,
who were ready to set out. Before proceeding, however, my father
ordered them to secure all the doors and windows, so that should the
buildings not be carried away by the flood, the articles within them
might be preserved, though they would get damaged by the water. My
father supported my mother; Mudge took charge of Edith; and I held
Pierce by the hand. The rest of the party pushed on close behind--and
from the remarks they made they evidently expected the whole peninsula
to be overwhelmed in a few minutes.

It was with difficulty we could see our way. "Let me go on ahead, yer
honour," sang out Paddy; "I'm a fine pilot in the dark; and it's better
that I should tumble into the river than that you and the misthress
should come to harm."

Paddy had supplied himself with a long stick, with which he felt the way
before him. We managed, by keeping close together under his guidance,
to get across the narrow neck of land, and then continued our course
along the bank of the river. As it was somewhat higher than the
peninsula, we had no great fear of the waters ove