They saw the foaming, yellow water spread over the country behind
them; but within half a mile of the mill it gathered into narrower
compass again because of the nature of the land, and the wave grew
higher as it rushed down upon Potter's dam. The motor car puffed up
the hill and halted before the mill door.

"Will we be safe here, Tom?" cried Helen, as pale as a ghost now, but
too brave to give way. "Are we safe?"

"We're all right, I believe," said Tom.

Jasper Parloe was already out of the car and ran into the mill. Only
the hired man was there, and he came to the door with a face whiter
than it was naturally made by the flour dust.

"Come in, quick!" he cried to the young people. "This mill can't go--
it's too solid."

Beyond the Red Mill the ground was low again; had the Camerons tried
to keep on the road for home the flood would have overtaken the car.
And to take the road that branched off for Cheslow would have
endangered the car, too. In a few seconds the knoll on which the mill
stood was an island!

The girls and Tom ran indoors. They could hardly hear each other shout
during the next few minutes. The waters rose and poured over the dam,
and part of it was swept out. Great waves beat upon the river-wall of
the mill. And then, with a tearing crash of rent timbers and masonry,
the front of the little office and the storeroom, built out over the