Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-05-02


splatting on the roof.
All night long the rain fell. 1t knocked the
blossoms from the swamp apple and the wild cherry
trees 1t drove the rabbits deeper into their burrows
1t soaked the fur of a. big red fox, out hunting
for food It dripped from the feathers of old gray
owl, hudded on the branch of pine tree.
Little streams of rain trickled down the hill
sides and splashed into the creek and the river Big
drops of rain fell down the Crocketts' chimney and
szzled as they hit the glowing backlog in the
fireplace
Again and again Pa Crockett left his bed and
opened the door to peer outside AS soon as it was
went out to look at the mill
Then Ma Crockett got up, too and began to fry
some cornmeal mush for breakfast
Pas face was grave when he came into the
cabin again.
"This storm sure is a humdnger," he said shak-
ing the water from his coonskn cap II amt never
seen Cove Creek so wild. And the old Nolichucky
Rivers getting higher every minute"
He took off his wet coat and hung 1t on wall
peg. AS he turned around he saw Davy climbing
down the ladder from the loft
49, "'Tant hardly light yet, Davy," Pa said What
Rain Davy replied, Tightening the deerskin
string which held his trousers up ut leaked in on
me and on Joey, too. Only Joeys not awake yet
Nor the other boys, either"
He walked quietly past the trundle bed where
Becky and Jane were still asleep. And past the baby
in her cradle. Then he spoke to his mother
"Ma I'm terrible hungry he declared. "Can
have some of that mush now?"
His mother nodded "Soon you wash your
face; she replied 81 reckon your pas ready to eat
She dished out the mush Davy turned to the
water bucket, which stood on shelf in the corner.
He washed his face quickly Sitting down beside his
father, he began his breakfast.
The rain was coming down harder now beating
against the cabin and splitting down the chimney.
Wind howed around the house and whiStled through
the cracks between the logs.
Suddenly there was great rush of wind The
heavy cabin door blew open with bang. Rain
santed in. Torrents of rain!
Davy sprang to his feet. So did Pa. Together
they pushed the door shut
"It seems like all the water in the sky is coming
down at once" Davy cried excitedly
TOO much water!" Pa exclaimed II don't like
the looks of It'll"
He had to shout to make himself heard above
the noise of the storm. The baby started to cry The
little girls climbed out of bed Up in the loft the boys
dressing quickly Pa stood by the fire with his
trencher in his hand and finished his mush in three
bites.
Going out to take look at the MILL" he yelled
as he pulled on his coat
80 am l." Davy declared. moment later he
and Pa outside, running toward the mill.
The rain pelted down. Trees swayed and tossed
in the wind The creek roared as it raced past the
mill to join the river beyond.
The river roared, too. 1t was swollen and yell
low with mud Angry it rushed along, carrying
small trees and broken branches with it.
Davy stared at it in amazement. Look at i'll"
he cried. "Pa! Look at the river It's most out OF
its banks
may have to get out of the cabin quick as scat
Send John here! JIM too! Well get the grndstones
and gear out of the mill and up to higher ground
if we can. Hurry up, now!'
Davv turned without word and ran toward
the cabin. The ground was slippery with ram. he
tripped and fell headlong over tree root But he
picked himself up and ran again. He reached the
cabin He put his hand the door. And at that very
moment he heard Pa shout behind him.
1.-The rivers out, Davy She's over the bank"
Davy looked around. The swift-flowing Nolichucky
ing out rapidly over the clearing. Already it had
reached the edge of the corn patch. Davy pushed
the door open.
"Ma!" he cried 1.-THE river It's coming right
for us!"
Then everything began to happen at once. There
was no time now to save anything in the mill. Pa
was running toward the cabin. Ma Snatched the
baby from her cradle and began to give orders
quickly.
"Wilson, grab the covers off the bed! Pick up
that sack of cornmeal jim! The salt, too! And the
bag of bullets John made last night Wrap them all
in quilt.
Bill gather up all the pots and kettles you can,
Davy you-oh, stop your crying Becky and Jane!
Here's your. pa. He'll get you away afore the water
hurts you"
"Come on" Pa said hastily He picked Jane up
under one arm and Becky under the other. You,
too Joey! Hang on to my coat. I'll get these young
'uns to high ground, Ma and be back as soon as
can"
With Joey hanging to his coat, he ran from the
cabin and Splashed across the clearing.
Water was coming into the cabin now. Ma pulled
a deerskn hunting shirt from wall peg. She
wrapped it around the baby and set off through the
rain after Pa.
"You boys get the rifle and the powder" she
shouted over her shoulder. Don't wait for your pa.
There isn't time"
eve won't" John told her. He took two powder
horns down from the wall and gave one to Davy. He
looked around. The other boys had their arms full.
"Can you carry the rifle, too?" he asked Davy
quickly. I'm going to the shed to get some tools"
~1a;1