The vigorous push-off had given them a good
start, and they made a little progress.

Once the string broke, but Alfy was able to fish up the line, for it
was near, and Mansy knotted the broken ends together again. He now
began to be more expert with his improvised paddles, and the string
just kept tight, but with scarcely any strain upon it, yet prevented
the tub from "wobbling"--steered it in fact to the house, and helped to
counteract the flow of the water.

So gradually they progressed to the house. The moon was now declining,
and a dark hour before the early dawn was at hand.

"How I'm going to get inside that house I don't know!" ejaculated Mansy
at last, after surveying the front for some little time. "I can't get
through the door--that would let the water in,--and climb to the upper
part of that winder, I couldn't!"

"Oh, we'll manage it, dear Mansy, somehow, never fear! We are getting
through our difficulties splendidly!"

But when they did get the tub safe under the window--which was
accomplished at last--and Alfy had expressed his joy with a loud
hurrah, then the new difficulty presented itself in full force. They
were afraid to open the lower sash of the window, as the level of the
water was just above it.

"How am I to scramble over the upper sash?" she exclaimed; "and how am
I to get down on the other side?"

"Yes! and the room is full of water," cried Edie from the window above.

"Not full, Edie!" expostulated Alfy.

"Well, there is a great deal all over the floor, and in all the lower
rooms," explained his sister.

"Oh! dear me! what a mess to clear up," exclaimed Mansy.

"Let me get in and see," said Alfy sturdily.

"Do take care, and don't cut yourself with the glass!" Mansy cried, as
she saw him clambering up over the top sash of the window. This he had
first pulled down as far as he could, and he also helped himself by the
sash lines. The breaking of the glass might of course prove very
dangerous, but he found another difficulty when, having climbed over
the sash, he stood a-tiptoe on the bottom of the window frame inside
the room, and clung for support to the top sash. How was he to
descend? Inside the room was dark, but he thought he saw the gleam of
water. He hesitated to jump at hazard, not knowing where he might
alight.

"Lower a candle, Edie," he cried, "and then I can see my way better!"

So presently down came a lighted candle, bobbing to and fro as the
little sist