"I've got it!" he exclaimed, tugging hard. "It's a stone."

He moved it, rolled it on one side, and pushed at the wheel of the
car as his companion put in the speed. They started again. He
jumped back his place.

"We've done it, all right!" he cried. "Don't you see? It's getting
lower all the time."

The chauffeur had lost his nerve. His cheeks were pale, his teeth
were chattering. The engine, however, was still beating. Gradually
the pressure of the water grew less. In front of them they caught
a glimpse of the road. They drew up at the top of a little bridge
over one of the dikes. Gerald uttered a brief exclamation of triumph.

"We're safe!" he almost sobbed. "There's the road, straight ahead
and round to the right. There's no more water anywhere near."

They had left the main part of the flood behind them. There were
still great pools in the side of the road, and huge masses of
seaweed had been carried up and were lying in their track. There
was no more water, however. At every moment they drew nearer to
the strangely-shaped hill with its crown of trees.

"The house is on the other side," Gerald pointed out. "We can go
through the lodge gates at the back here. The ascent isn't so
steep."

They turned sharply to the right, along another stretch of straight