put yourself in his place-第104部分

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Ransome　had　not　left　the　Galtons　many　yards　behind　him；　when　there　was　a　sharp　explosion　heard　up　in　the　hills。

Ransome　pulled　up　and　said　aloud；　〃It　will　be　all　right　now；　thank　goodness！　they　have　blown　up　the　wear。〃

The　words　were　scarcely　out　of　his　mouth　when　he　heard　a　loud　sullen　roar；　speedily　followed　by　a　tremendous　hiss；　and　a　rumbling　thunder；　that　shook　the　very　earth　where　he　stood；　two　miles　distant。

This　is　what　had　taken　place　since　he　left　the　reservoir；　but　ten　minutes　ago。

Mr。　Tucker　and　Mr。　Carter　laid　the　gunpowder　and　the　train；　and　lighted　the　latter；　and　came　back　across　the　middle　of　the　embankment。

Being　quite　safe　here　from　the　effect　of　the　explosion；　Mr。　Tucker　was　desirous　to　establish　by　measurement　that　the　water　in　the　reservoir　had　not　risen　so　high　as　the　crack　in　the　embankment。

With　this　view　he　took　out　a　measure；　and；　at　some　risk　of　being　swept　into　eternity；　began　coolly　to　measure　the　crack　downward。

At　this　very　time　water　was　trickling　over；　and　that　alarmed　Carter；　and　he　told　Tucker　they　were　trifling　with　their　own　lives。

〃Oh；〃　said　Tucker；　〃that　is　only　the　spray　from　the　waves。〃

They　actually　measured　the　crack；　stooping　over　it　with　their　lanterns。

When　they　had　done　that；　Carter　raised　his　head；　and　suddenly　clutched　Tucker　by　the　arm　and　pointed　upward。　　The　water　was　pouring　over　the　top；　still　in　a　thin　sheet；　but　then　that　sheet　was　gradually　widening。　　The　water　came　down　to　their　feet；　and　some　of　it　disappeared　in　the　crack；　and　the　crack　itself　looked　a　little　larger　than　when　last　inspected。　　Tucker　said；　gravely；　〃I　don't　like　that：　but　let　me　examine　the　valve…house　at　once。〃　　He　got　down　to　the　valve…house；　but　before　he　could　ascertain　what　quantity　of　water　was　escaping　Carter　called　to　him；　〃Come　out；　for　God's　sake；　or　you　are　lost。〃

He　came　running　out；　and　saw　an　opening　thirty　feet　wide　and　nearly　a　foot　deep；　and　a　powerful　stream　rushing　over　it。

The　moment　Tucker　saw　that；　he　cried；　〃It's　all　up；　the　embankment　must　go！〃　　And；　the　feeling　of　the　architect　overpowering　the　instincts　of　the　man；　he　stood　aghast。　　But　Carter　laid　hold　of　him；　and　dragged　him　away。

Then　he　came　to　himself；　and　they　ran　across　the　embankment。

As　they　started；　the　powder；　which　had　hung　fire　unaccountably；　went　off；　and　blew　up　the　waste…wear；　but　they　scarcely　heard　it；　for；　as　they　ran；　the　rent　above　kept　enlarging　and　deepening　at　a　fearful　rate；　and　the　furious　stream　kept　rushing　past　their　flying　heels；　and　threatened　to　sweep　them　sideways　to　destruction。

They　were　safe　at　last；　but　even　as　they　stood　panting；　the　rent　in　the　top　of　the　embankment　spreaddeepenedyawned　terrificallyand　the　pent…up　lake　plunged　through；　and　sweeping　away　at　once　the　center　of　the　embankment；　rushed；　roaring　and　hissing；　down　the　valley；　an　avalanche　of　water；　whirling　great　trees　up　by　the　roots；　and　sweeping　huge　rocks　away；　and　driving　them；　like　corks；　for　miles。

At　that　appalling　sound；　that　hissing　thunder；　the　like　of　which　he　had　never　heard　before；　and　hopes　never　to　hear　again；　Ransome　spurred　away　at　all　his　speed；　and　warned　the　rest　of　the　village　with　loud　inarticulate　cries：　he　could　not　wait　to　speak；　nor　was　it　necessary。

At　the　top　of　the　hill　he　turned　a　moment；　and　looked　up　the　valley；　soon　he　saw　a　lofty　white　wall　running　down　on　Hatfield　Mill：　it　struck　the　mill；　and　left　nothing　visible　but　the　roof；　surrounded　by　white　foam。

Another　moment；　and　he　distinctly　saw　the　mill　swim　a　yard　or　two；　then　disappear　and　leave　no　trace；　and　on　came　the　white　wall；　hissing　and　thundering。

Ransome　uttered　a　cry　of　horror；　and　galloped　madly　forward；　to　save　what　lives　he　might。

Whenever　he　passed　a　house　he　shrieked　his　warning；　but　he　never　drew　rein。

As　he　galloped　along　his　mind　worked。　　He　observed　the　valley　widen　in　places；　and　he　hoped　the　flying　lake　would　spread；　and　so　lose　some　of　that　tremendous　volume　and　force　before　which　he　had　seen　Hatfield　stone　mill　go　down。

With　this　hope　he　galloped　on；　and　reached　Poma　Bridge；　five　miles　and　a　half　from　the　reservoir。

Here；　to　his　dismay；　he　heard　the　hissing　thunder　sound　as　near　to　him　as　it　was　when　he　halted　on　the　hill　above　Damflask；　but　he　could　see　nothing；　owing　to　a　turn　in　the　valley。

At　the　bridge　itself　he　found　a　man　standing　without　his　hat；　staring　wildly　up　the　valley。

He　yelled　to　this　man；　〃Dam　is　burst。　　Warn　the　villagefor　their　livesrun　on　to　Hillsboroughwhen　you　are　winded；　send　another　on。　You'll　all　be　paid　at　the　Town　Hall。〃

Then　he　dashed　across　the　bridge。

As　he　crossed　it；　he　caught　sight　of　the　flying　lake　once　more：　he　had　gone　over　more　ground；　but　he　had　gone　no　further。　　He　saw　the　white　wall　strike　Dolman's　farm；　there　was　a　light　in　one　window　now。　　He　saw　the　farm…house；　with　its　one　light；　swim　bodily；　then　melt　and　disappear；　with　all　the　poor　souls　in　it。

He　galloped　on：　his　hat　flew　off；　he　came　under　the　coiners'　house；　and　yelled　a　warning。　　A　window　was　opened；　and　a　man　looked　out；　the　light　was　behind　him；　and；　even　in　that　terrible　moment；　he　recognizedShifty　Dick。

〃The　flood！　the　flood！　　Fly！　　Get　on　high　ground；　for　your　lives！〃

He　galloped　furiously；　and　made　for　Little's　house。


CHAPTER　XLIV。


Little　took　a　book；　and　tried　to　while　away　the　time　till　Ransome's　return；　but　he　could　not　command　his　attention。　　The　conversation　about　Grace　had　excited　a　topic　which　excluded　every　other。

He　opened　his　window；　a　French　casement；　and　looked　out　upon　the　night。

Then　he　observed　that　Grace；　too；　was　keeping　vigil；　for　a　faint　light　shot　from　her　window　and　sparkled　on　the　branches　of　the　plane…tree　in　her　little　front　garden。

〃And　that；〃　thought　Henry；　sadly；　〃is　all　I　can　see　of　her。　　Close　to　her；　yet　far　offfurther　than　ever　now。〃

A　deep　sadness　fell　on　him；　sadness　and　doubt。　　Suppose　he　were　to　lay　a　trap　for　her　to…morrow；　and　catch　her　at　her　own　door！　　What　good　would　it　do？　　He　put　himself　in　her　place。　　That　process　showed　him　at　once　she　would　come　no　more。　　He　should　destroy　her　little　bit　of　patient；　quiet　happiness；　the　one　daily　sunbeam　of　her　desolate　life。

By…and…by；　feeling　rather　drowsy；　he　lay　down　in　his　clothes　to　wait　for　Ransome's　return。　　He　put　out　his　light。

From　his　bed　he　could　see　Grace's　light　kiss　the　plane…tree。

He　lay　and　fixed　his　eyes　on　it；　and　thought　of　all　that　had　passed　between　them；　and；　by…and…by；　love　and　grief　made　his　eyes　misty；　and　that　pale　light　seemed　to　dance　and　flicker　before　him。

About　midnight；　he　was　nearly　dozing　off；　when　his　ear　caught　a　muttering　outside；　he　listened；　and　thought　he　heard　some　instrument　grating　below。

He　rose　very　softly；　and　crept　to　the　window；　and　looked　keenly　through　his　casement。

He　saw　nothing　at　first；　but　presently　a　dark　object　emerged　from　behind　the　plane…tree　I　have　mentioned；　and　began　to　go　slowly；　but　surely　up　it。

Little　feared　it　was　a　burglar　about　to　attack　that　house　which　held　his　darling。

He　stepped　softly　to　his　rifle　and　loaded　both　barrels。　　It　was　a　breech…loader。　　Then　he　crawled　softly　to　the　window；　and　peered　out；　rifle　in　hand。

The　man　had　climbed　the　tree；　and　was　looking　earnestly　in　at　one　of　the　windows　in　Grace's　house。　　His　attention　was　so　fixed　that　he　never　saw　the　gleaming　eye　which　now　watched　him。

Presently　the　drifting　clouds　left　the　moon　clear　a　minute；　and　Henry　Little　recognized　the　face　of　Frederick　Coventry。

He　looked　at　him；　and　began　to　tremble。

Why　did　he　tremble？　　Becauseafter　the　first　rush　of　surprise　rage；　hate；　and　bloody　thoughts　crossed　his　mind。　　Here　was　his　enemy；　the　barrier　to　his　happiness；　come；　of　his　own　accord；　to　court　his　death。　　Why　not　take　him　for　a　burglar；　and　shoot　him　dead？　　Such　an　act　might　be　blamed；　but　it　could　not　be　punished　severely。

The　temptation　was　so　great；　that　the　rifle　shook　in　his　hands；　and　a　cold　perspiration　poured　down　his　back。

He　prayed　to　God　in　agony　to　relieve　him　from　this　temptation；　he　felt　that　it　was　more　than　he　could　bear。

He　looked　up。　　Coventry　was　drawing　up　a　short　iron　ladder　from　below。　　He　then　got　hold　of　it　and　fixed　it　on　the　sill　of　Grace's　window。

Little　burst　his　own　window　open。　　〃You　villain！〃　he　cried；　and　leveled　his　rifle　at　him。

Coventry　uttered　a　yell　of　dismay。　　Grace　opened　her　window；　and　looked　out；　with　a　face　full　of　terror。

At　sight　of　her；　Coventry　cried　to　her　in　abject　terror；　〃Mercy！　mercy！　　Don't　let　him　shoot　me！〃

Grace　looked　round；　and　saw　Henry　aiming　at　Coventry。

She　screamed；　and　Little　lowered　the　rifle　directly。

Coventry　crouched　directly　in　the　fork　of　the　tree。

Grace　looked　bewildered　from　one　to　the　other；　but　it　was　to　Henry　she　spoke；　and　asked　him　in　trembling　tones　what　it　〃all　meant？〃

But；　ere　either　could　make　a　reply；　a　dire　sound　was　heard　of　hissing　thunder：　so　appalling　that　the　three　actors　in　this　strange　scene　were　all　frozen　and　rooted　where　they　stood。

Then　came　a　fierce　galloping；　and　Ransome；　with　his　black　hair　and　beard　flying；　and　his　face　like　a　ghost；　reined　up；　and　shouted　wildly；　〃Dam　burst！　　Coming　down　here！　　Fly　for　your　lives！　　Fly！〃

He　turned　and　galloped　up　the　hill。

Cole　and　his　mate　emerged；　and　followed　him；　howling；　but　before　the　other　poor　creatures；　half　paralyzed；　could　do　any　thing；　the　hissing　thunder　was　upon　them。　　What　seemed　a　mountain　of　snow　came　rolling；　and　burst　on　them　with　terrific　violence；　whirling　great　trees　and　fragments　of　houses　past　with　incredible　velocity。

At　the　first　blow；　the　house　that　stood　nearest　to　the　flying　lake　was　shattered　and　went　to　pieces　soon　after：　all　the　houses　quivered　as　the　water　rushed　round　them　two　stories　high。

Little　never　expected　to　live　another　minute；　yet；　in　that　awful　moment；　his　love　stood　firm。　　He　screamed　to　Grace；　〃The　houses　must　go！the　tree！the　tree！get　to　the　tree！〃

But　Grace；　so　weak　at　times；　was　more　than　mortal　strong　at　that　dread　hour。

〃What！　live　with　him；〃　she　cried；　〃when　I　can　die　with　you！〃

She　folded　her　arms；　and　her　pale　face　was　radiant；　no　hope；　no　fear。

Now　came　a　higher　wave；　and　the　water　reached　above　the　window…sills　of　the　bedroom　floor　a