I was aroused by a shout from Sigenok. I
lifted up my head and saw a dark object in the distance rising above the
water.

"It is our house!" exclaimed Malcolm, "Sigenok says so. Oh, that our
father may be there!"

We kept our eyes anxiously fixed on the distant object. It was growing
dusk. Malcolm said that he saw something moving on it.

"Man there, alive!" observed Sigenok.

Our hopes were raised; but he spoke only of one man. How long the time
appeared occupied in reaching the spot! Even through the gloom we could
now distinguish the outline of our log hut, which had grounded on a bank
among some strong fences and brushwood, and was now fixed securely,
partly tilted over.

"Who is there? who is there?" we shouted. "Father, father! we are
Malcolm and Harry!"

"Woe's me, young masters, your father is not here," said a voice which,
hollow and husky as it was, we recognised as that of Sam Dawes. We were
soon up to our hut, to the roof of which Sam was clinging. The Indians
lifted him into the canoe, for he had scarcely strength to help himself.

"But our father, Sam! our father!" we exclaimed. "Where is he? what has
happened?"

"He no speak till he eat," observed Sigenok, after he had secured the
canoe to the hut.

We took the hint, and gave him some food. In a short time he revived,
and told us that our father, after we went away, would not believe that
the water would rise higher, and that they had retired to rest as usual,
when they were awoken by the sound of the water rushing round the house;
that they both ran out and mounted their horses to drive off the cattle,
as had been arranged. Our father took the lead, urging on before him
the cows and horses, while he followed with the sheep, when his horse
fell and he was thrown into a deep hole. As he scrambled out, the
current took him off his legs. He was nearly drowned, but after
floundering about for some time, he found himself carried up against the
hut. He immediately climbed to the roof and shouted as loud as he could
in the hopes of recalling our father, but there was no answer. Again
and again he shouted. He tried to pierce the gloom which still hung
over the land, though it was nearly morning. He felt a wish to leap off
and try and follow his master, but what had become of his horse he could
not ascertain. The waters were increasing round the cottage. He felt
it shake violently, when, to his horror, it lifted and floated bodily