few
rails,"--as he kicked over the burnt fragments with a melancholy
look,--"they're not of much account, for the piece over the river is
pretty well fenced, after all; luckily, the fires didn't touch them,
and we have them safe for another year."

One afternoon, a few days later, as Mr. Payson was in his attic study
absorbed, an unwonted darkness fell upon the page before him; then a
heavy peal of thunder succeeded. It was one long, continuous roll, for
an hour or more, without pause, and the rain poured down as he never
saw it in any shower east; it seemed as if the heavy clouds were
literally emptying their contents upon prairie and forest, while flash
followed flash of vivid lightning. Throughout the whole night it
rained, and the next day, and the next; and, were it not for the
ancient promise, one might have thought that a second flood was to
sweep the inhabitants of the world away. About midnight of the third
day of the terrible storm, the family at the missionary's cabin were
awakened by wild shoutings in the village below.

"What do you suppose is the matter?" asked Mrs. Payson.

"Nothing serious, I think," said her husband. "As the town site is
rolling and descends towards the river, it is probable that the high
water has come up into some of the yards and gardens, and perhaps has
invaded some of the settlers' pig-pens and hen-coops, and the
neighbors are working in the rain and darkness to save their live
stock."

The sun came out next morning like "a bride-groom from out his
chamber, rejoicing as a strong man to run his race," flooding the
fields with light, as the clouds had flooded them with water,
revealing the destruction which the tempest had caused. It appeared
that the river, a short distance up stream from the town, had become
obstructed by dead trees, and brush, and loosened soil, until a heavy
body of water had accumulated, when, the impediment suddenly giving
way, the water rushed with tremendous power, inundating a wide extent
of ground, and sweeping away everything movable in its path. Many
cabins were flooded, sleepers being awakened by the water dashing
against their beds, while articles of furniture were floating about in
the room. It was this that caused the outcries that Mr. Payson had
heard.

The Jones's cabin had been well chosen for safety on ordinary
occasions; but, on the night in question, Tom was awakened by
something cold touching his hand; for, in throwing it out of bed in