lands, was a cruelty too dreadful to be believed. Oliver and
Mildred did not believe it. They were sure their father would not
believe it; and that their mother, if ever she should return to her home
and family, would bring a very different account--that the whole
misfortune would turn out to be accidental. So they felt assured: but
the fact was as Roger had said. The Snow-sewer sluice had been pulled
up, by the orders of the Committee of the Parliament, then sitting at
Lincoln: and it was done to destroy the king's new lands, and deprive
him of the support of his tenants. The jealous country-people round
hoped also that it would prevent foreigners from coming to live in
England, however much they might want such a refuge.

Some of the sufferers knew how their misfortune happened. Others might
be thankful that they did not; for the thought of the malice of their
enemies must have been more bitter than the fear of ruin and death.

CHAPTER FOUR.

A HUNGRY DAY.

"We shall see what father does," was still the consolation with which
Oliver kept down his sister's fears. He had such confidence in his
father's knowing what was best to be done on all occasions, that he felt
they had only to watch him, and imitate whatever he might attempt. They
remained quiet on the island now, hungry and tired as they were, because
he remained in the mill, and seemed to expect the water to subside. The
most fearful thought was what they were to do after dark, if they should
not get home before that. They supposed, at last, that their father was
thinking of this too; for he began to move about, when the sun was near
setting, more than he had done all the afternoon.

They saw him go carefully down into the stream, and proceed cautiously
for some way--till the water was up to his chin. Then he was buffeted
about so terribly that Mildred could not bear to look. Both Oliver and
Roger were sure, by what he ventured, and by the way he pulled himself
back at last to the steps, that he had tied himself by the rope they had
seen him measure. It was certainly too short for any good purpose; for
he had to go back, having only wetted himself to the skin. They saw
this by the yellow light from the west which shone upon the water. In a
few minutes they could distinguish him no longer, though the mill stood
up black against the sky, and in the midst of the gleaming flood.

"Father will be wet, and so cold all night!" said Mildred, cryi