river, was torn away.

From that quarter Jasper Parloe ran, yelling wildly. Ruth saw him dart
out of the far door of the mill, stooping low and with his coat over
his head as though he expected the whole structure to fall about his
ears.

But only that wall and the loading platform for the boats were sliced
off by the flood. Then the bulk of the angry waters swept past,
carrying all sorts of debris before it, and no farther harm was done
to the mill, or to Mr. Potter's other buildings.

CHAPTER XI

UNCLE JABEZ IS EXCITED

So rapidly had all this taken place that the girls had remained in the
mill. But now Ruth, crying: "Aunt Alvirah will be frightened to death,
Helen!" led the way down the long passage and through the shed into
the kitchen porch. The water on this side of the building had swept up
the road and actually into the yard; but the automobile stood in a
puddle only and was not injured.

Aunt Alviry was sitting in her rocker by the window. The old woman was
very pale and wan. She had her Bible open on her knees and her lips
trembled in a smile of welcome when the girls burst into the room.

"Oh, my dears! my dears!" she cried. "I am so thankful to see you both
safe!" She started to rise, and the old phrase came to her lips: "Oh,
my back and oh, my bones!"