w it
was a watch-fire upon the shores. Forms of men were seen flitting here
and there, gathering sticks to throw upon the flames, which ere long
developed into a magnificent blaze. Guided by this they soon reached
the spot, and great was the miners' surprise to behold the gray-haired
man and the hooded maiden emerge from the darkness.

"What's wrong?" inquired Mr. Radhurst, looking from one to another.

"Wrong?" replied a husky fellow, who had just deposited an armful of
wood, "everything's wrong to-night! Flood and death, that's what's
wrong!"

Constance's face paled as she listened to these words.

"Why," she gasped, "didn't all escape?"

"Naw. The best has gone down, the only men of the whole gang."

"Who? Oh, tell me quick!"

"Old Pete an' the parson."

The words smote Constance like a sudden blow. Pale at the first
intimation of the disaster, she was like death now. She tried to
speak, but could utter not a sound.

"Don't be frightened, Miss," said the man not unkindly, noticing her
excitement. "It may not be as bad as we think."

"Oh, tell me!" she gasped, "what has happened?"

"Well, to tell you the truth, Miss, we don't know much ourselves. You
see we were at that devilish job when the parson landed upon us with a
yell which made our blood run cold. Then there was a scramble for the
high bank, and I guess the Injuns are scramblin' yet, for they haven't
shown up since. It was Pete who first shouted out for the parson, and
when he could not be found I thought the old man would go mad. He made
for the river with one bound, and the last we heard of him was his cry,
"I'm comin', laddie!" and then the flood was upon them."

"But didn't anyone go to their rescue?" asked Constance excitedly.
"Did the men all stand by and let them drown?"

"Not a bit of it, Miss. Most of the men are down yon searchin' the
shore, but it's so dark I'm afraid they can do very little. We've made
this fire to guide them back, and if they do find the poor chaps, a
little heat won't be amiss, I reckon."

"Oh, what can we do!" and Constance wrung her hands in agony of mind.

"Wait, Connie. We can wait," replied her father.

"Wait! Wait, and----" A thought flashed through her mind. It was
like a still, small voice.

"Call upon Me in the day of trouble," it said.

Yes, why had she forgotten? It made her feel that a Presence was very
near, and that He who long ago had delivered His people from the waters
of