Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1868-03-26

riedly.
/ did not speak, but I was so glad of the
friendly act that / gave Harris hand a
warm squeeze, one which he returned In
q way which showed how thoroughly we
understood one another.
For Heavens sake, be smart, men !" l
said, as The second hostler brought out one
horse seaddled, the other man having dis
appeared into the house; but he now re-
turned with the landlord, who said to Har-
ms in a quiet, respectful way: "Impos-
sible to get to the mill this afternoon, sir.
Can't, with Justice to myself, lett horse OF
mine 60, sir" - .-a...-, ,y-r
:. "What :" shouted Harris, fiercely.
"Why, sir, the beast would be drowned,
certain sure, if you attempted II. But
you don't mean the Mill, ITSELF do you,
"Never mind, Harris" I said, for | was
mounted-"In 60 on" ,-l1-,
"Stopl for Gods sake, stopl" he
shouted. "Here, Mr.. Ellis, what is your
horse worth ?"l'lUI
Thirty pounds, to me, sir" said the
man.
an pay you that if injure the beast"
said Harris, eagerly. "Now, saddle it
quickly"
"And suppose you don't-don't get
back, sir said the man, ominously. of
you'll take my advice, you'll both of you
stop here, or else go in boat"
Harris reply was to run into the bar,
seize the pen, ink and paper, and write a
promissory note for the amount named,
which he thrust into the landlords hands !;
and the next minute we were Gathering
down the street toward the old stone
bridge which we crossed just IN time, for,
half an hour after, pier. gave way frem
the fearful pressure, ard side-arch crum-
bled into the running flood.
All the lower parts of the town were
under water, and the cold sweat rose upon
my forehead as saw that two or three
houses had regularly sunk down into the
current while in dozens of places, people
were being taken out Of the upper win
dows into carts and boats for thought
Of the Mill and the mighty stream beating
upon the great pile at the island head
while remembering the fate of the iron
bridge, and wondered whether. if 1t were
swept away, the horses would swim the
current, for now in our slow progress, with
the water, in some places, above their
girthe, they snofted and shivered, and
more than once stood trembling and afraid
to proceed. But there was no mercy for
them. Whip and spur forced them on till
we we're or terra firma once more, and
side by size, gong up the hill at brisk
gellop, Harris pale, with his teeth set, an
sweriDg my every remark with q monosyl-
liable, as be pressed on till we were
high above the wstery waste, and could
now see the ruin and devastation around.
Everywhere wster-rushiDg water-ed-
dying Whitewater covered with ruins !;
portions of haystacks, heaps of straw, here
floating slowly down the mighty stream,
there grounding, and then turning as if
upon an axis. till foated of once mere,
and continuing their course. Now and
then We could make out swimming ami
mails, and more than once carcasses while
In several places cattle stood on ever less
ening islands, lowing dismally. Carts,
fagots, planks, thatch from cottages, fences,
and now and then huge trees, torn out of
the banks, floated down the stream; while
the height to which the water had risen
since left home, made my heart sink as
We pressed on.
Don't spare him." / shouted to Harris,
as his horse refused to cross lane along
which the water rushed fiercely and deeply
enough to take my cob right off his legs
a minute but ne SWAN boldly till he
tJuched bottom again. But my words
were unnecessary, for at the same moment
the frightened beast leaped into the yellow
stream and dashed across.
We were now in the lower ground again /;
h"t the road once more assembled, till we
sached the toll gate, where the man shook
IS head ominously as he saw me, and said
something; but without studying the pay
ment of toll, we had galloped through.
Another n lie brought US in sight Of the
Mill, round which the waters were rush.
ing, and even at that distance, to my hor-
Tor, / could see that the sitting groom win
dows were nearly covered. Harris must
have seen it at the same moment, for he
whipped his horse smartly, and we gall
loped hard down The long hill, till reach
ing the valley through which the river
stood looking for Q favorable place to try
Better come little lower down here,
! said.
what forr said Harris, huskily.
ITO reach the bridge"
"Where is il 2" he said despairingly.
/ started, Tor as / looked along the track
Of the rushing water, there was no bridge
visible, and my worst fears were realized.
Come here" said Harris, dashing
through tie water to turn in the road
where tie Mil could easily be seen; and
on reaching tins spot we could see, about
i've hundred yards lower down, the place
we sought TO reach, with the waters just
covering the sitting-room windows, and
figures In the bedroom making signs for
help. suppose they saw us then but all
seems 30 mixed up in one strange whirl,
that hardly know how the occurrences OF
the next few hours took place.
Moved as II were by one impulse, Har-
ris and forced our horses into the water
with the full intention Of trying to swim
them till we could float down to the win.
dows, and then try and bring off two oil
the endangered lives; but the snorting,
terrified beasts dashed back in spite of al
our efforts, Harris horse plunging 50 furi.
ously that he was thrown, and the animal
galloped splashing by me, while for few
seconds my companion vanished beneath
the water.
spurred the cob to where he had dis
appeared, and the next minute he stood
holding by its name, painting and wring-
ing the bitterly cold water from his
clothes. fiiff1~6 iIltt
What are you going to dos. I said
hastily; i0r he mad stripped of his over
and uno<st coat, and could zee that he was
| pushing e his boots as he stood there ur
TO his midde In water.
"Swim for it." be said coolly.
!" But til, Impossible" Issid huskily.
"Do you think / can stand here till she
is swept swsys ." he said sternly. ~
/ could give no answer, but slipping of
the cob. followed his example, and
then, afer clasping hands for an instant
we waded to suitable place for astarting
point. and then continued wading till the
water was up to our breasts, when We
pushed Of, and half facing up the stream
swan quietly on, and without much diff
Guilty, for We were now in IN eddy which
aided rs q little. So
The valley was about half mile wide
here, and quite one half of that distance
was converted into a rushing, turbulent