Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-07-08

wiped away her tears, and wher Fred
brought the loads to the stairway abe
lan win them to the bedroom where
grandmother Melton was sitting.
by this time the building had begun
10 shake and CULVER as the water beat
against it.
She's going soon," shouted Fred.
I'm afraid the water will reach us
up nere," suggested Grandmother Mel
Fred looked up. The ceiling was low,
anu just above him there had been en-
ola trap-door, now nailed up. In
stantly Fred seized the ak and burst
~ open. Above they could see the dark
SKY and the rain coming down in steady
torrents. Fred piled a trunk on top Of
'ne table and climbed out on the roof.
He couldn't see far, but he could
near the roaring Of the water from
every direction. His heart sunk; he felt
sure that they all would be drowned.
suddenly something thumped heavily
AGAINST the side of the building, and
tue next instant the front end of the
loom went up and grandmother and
roiiy slipped down toward the rear
eno: Fred narrowly escaped beiag
hurled off the roof.
We're going! We're going!"
screamed Polly.
we're just of the foundation"
answered Fred, as bravely as he could.
!hen ne swung back down into the
oeoroom and helped Grandmother
melton and Polly up through the trap
ooor to the roof. He covered them up
as well as he could and told them to
eilng to the ridgepole whatever might
happen. Then he ran down for coil
OF clothesline. This he tied firmly to
Tue window at one end of the bedroom,
carried the other end up through the
trap-door, along the roof and dropped
~ over the caves. Down he went
again and fastened it to the other win
ooW frame. 1t would do to hold to-.
Hardly had he finished his work when
me building gave another great lurch.
Hold on" shouted Fred.
Inc words were hardly out of his
mouth when he found himself thrown
violently from his feet. He caught a
glimpse of the water pouring up the
stairway and then the lamp was cap
sized and went out. Next he found
himself pounding about in the water.
Fred! Fred" came the agonized
voice of Polly.
Here l am" spluttered Fred. In
railing he had caught the edge of the
trap-door and Polly helped him to the
roof.
I'VE had all we could do to hold on, :"
gasped Grandmother Melton.
Were moving" shouted Polly.
They rocked and scraped and bump
ed along, with the water swirling and
crashing around them.
tits our first voyage said Fred, with
an effort to laugh; "p'raps we'll wind
up in the Gulf of Mexico"
But Polly didn't laugh; neither did
Grandmother Melton.
A few minutes later they heard some
one shouting far out on the stream and
they saw the glimmer of q lantern.
They shouted in return, but there was
no answer, and presently the lantern
was swallowed up in the darkness and
the three castaways were even more
lonesome and terrified than before.
They were compelled to cling firmly
to the rope and the ridgepole all the
time, for the house was continually
Dumping against distractions in the
stream and careening and jolting like
a boat in rough sea. Besides this,
they were wet to the skin and shiver-
ing with cold and fright. Occasionally
huge forms would loom up near them,
and they would see the outline Of trees
or buildings floating down the river.
They were momentarily afraid lest
their boat should bump into something
and be broken up. If this happened
they knew they would have small hope
of escape. "..
Quite suddenly they felt the building
grind on something, and then, with a