The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1873-11-19
Presentlv GLASSES and pipes were

laid on the table, and | did my best
{ to rekindle hope within my breast
by the aid Of Hollands and Bar
ret's twist, but it was no good.
On the other side Of the fire sat
Mrs. Martin, q comely dame Of fifty
years, fully as broad as she was
long, and with q mind wholly given
to the concerns Of the dairy, and
the making Of orange marmalade.
Gertrude, knowing that something
was wrong, but scarcely guessing
what, nestled up to my side, and,
to my great joy, her father did not
rebuke her.
And thus we sat'for a long time,
neither of us speaking q word, but
listening to the falling rain and
bowling wind without, and to the
groanlng ofthe great forest trees,
as their branches were swayed and
tossed by the blast. Anon came
another sound--a loud but yet q
a soothing murmur, likethe signing
Of a Summer breeze arAid a cork
wood
No one seemed to notice it but
me, and I only did 30 as wondering
how so gentle and 60 musical a
murmur could make itself audible
above the uproar Of the wind and
tempest. Suddenly however, there
broke upon our ears the dashing
open Ofa gate and a mans voice
shouting:
"Master Martin, if you value
your life, look sharp! The river has
overfown its banks and the waters
are out"
Then we heard the splash, splash,
OF horses feet, as the warning yisi-
tor rode away.
"Wster out, impossibIe!' nut.
tered the old farmer. "Why, bless
my heart, the river was not on a
level with its banks by q good six
inches this morning and we've had
no rain to speak Of since"
"You don't know what weather
it has been amongst the mountains,
though, Mr.. Martin" IaM. "And
bark! put your ear to the floor.
By heaven! the warning was a
timely one. We have not q mo-
ment to lose"
We all bent our heads down
and listened; and now we could
hear a hollow, gurgling sound un-
der our feet, and little jets OF spray
leaped up between the crevices Of
the flooring.
The house according to the CON-
mon custom in the colonies, was
built on piles, and thus the down
stair rooms were about four feet
above the ground, between which
and the flooring the angry waters
were now fretting aud funing and
dashing against the stout wood
work with momentarily increasing
power.
The women began to cry, the
farmer was too stupefed to move.
"This will never do," / said;
there is not moment to be lost.
| can take one fyou up behind me
on my horse, and ] know that
Carlo and | will get through it
somehow. The rest had better get
up stars---or, possible on to the
roof--and with the first peep of
dawn IN send a boat to bring you
of. Now, who am to take charge
| Off"
| | was very much afraid he would
bid me take the old lady, but to
my great relief both the parents
cried out" "Save Gertrude!"
| lost no time in acting. I flew
down the four steps that led to the
garden, and, with the water above
my Napoleon boots, made my way
to the stable. Mine was the only
steed therefor Australian settlers
seldom stable their own horses
and he, poor fellow, was very mis-
cradle and frightened.
/ | did not stop TO reassure him,
but had him round at the house
doorin a minute, and then Gertrude,
after bidding q weeping sdieu to
q A ~ .