carried away like straws. But the water seemed, above all, to pursue the
fugitives. At the bend in the road, where there was a steep slope, it fell
suddenly in an immense sheet and cut off retreat. They continued to run,
nevertheless, splashing through the water, no longer shouting, mad
with terror. The water swirled about their knees. An enormous wave felled
the woman who was carrying the child. Then all were engulfed.

"Quick! Quick!" I cried. "We must get into the house. It is solid--we have
nothing to fear."

We took refuge upstairs. The house was built on a hillock above the road.
The water invaded the yard, softly, with a little rippling noise. We were
not much frightened.

"Bah!" said Jacques, to reassure every one, "this will not amount to
anything. You remember, father, in '55, the water came up into the yard.
It was a foot deep. Then it receded."

"It is disastrous for the crops, just the same," murmured Cyprien.

"No, it will not be anything," I said, seeing the large questioning eyes
of our girls.

Aimee had put her two children into the bed. She sat beside them, with
Veronique and Marie. Aunt Agathe spoke of heating some wine she had brought
up, to give us courage.

Jacques and Rose were looking out of a window. I was at the other, with my
brother Pierre, Cyprien and Gaspard.