in could not refrain from giving him a kick, while he lay thus
powerless, and sneering in his face because he could not see her.

"Don't, Ailwin,--don't!" said Oliver. "Mildred and I should not have
been here now but for him."

"And I should not have been terrified out of my wits, for these two
hours past, nor have lost my cherry-brandy, but for him. Mercy! I
shall never forget his popping up his face at that window, and sending
his dog in before him. I was as sure as death that the flood was all of
their making, and that they were come for me, after having carried off
my master, and as I thought, you two."

"Why, Ailwin, what nonsense!" cried Mildred from her bed,--trembling all
over as she spoke. "How could a boy make a flood?"

"And you see what he has done, instead of carrying us off," observed
Oliver.

"Well, it is almost worth my cherry-brandy to see him lie so,--dead
drunk,--only it would be better still to see him really dead.--Well,
that may be a wicked thing to say; but it is not so wicked as some
things he has done;--and I am so mortally afraid of him!"

"I wish you would say your prayers, Ailwin, instead of saying such
things: and then, perhaps, you would find yourself not afraid of
anybody."

"Well, that is almost as good as if the pastor had preached it. I will
just hang up the chicks in the hand-basket, for fear of the dog; and
then we will say our prayers, and go to sleep, please God. I am sure we
all want it."

Oliver chose to examine first how high the water stood in the lower
rooms. He lighted a piece of wood, and found that only two steps of the
lower flight of stairs remained dry. Ailwin protested so earnestly that
the waters had not risen for two or three hours, that he thought they
might all lie down to sleep. Ailwin and he were the only ones who could
keep watch. He did not think Ailwin's watching would be worth much; he
was so tired that he did not think he could keep awake; and he felt that
he should be much more fit for all the business that lay before him for
the next day, if he could get a good rest now. So he kissed little
George, as he lay down beside him, and was soon as sound asleep as all
his companions.

CHAPTER FIVE.

SUNRISE OVER THE LEVELS.

All the party slept for some hours, as quietly and unconsciously as
little George himself. If the children were so weary that the dreadful
uncertainty about their father's fate could not keep them awake, it is
pro