“I can’t promise to send much more,” said the operator, as several of the reporters came into the office. “Just got word that the waters just above here are worse than ever. Guess I’ll have to vacate here soon.” “Where will you go?” asked Larry. “I’ll take some of the instruments and set up a temporary office on the high hill back of the town,” was the answer. “The water can’t get there, and if you’ll get a boat you may be able to bring me your copy.” “I’ll get a boat,” said Larry, with a laugh. “But perhaps it will not be as bad as you think.” “It will be worse,” replied the operator, clicking away at his key. Larry started back to where Mr. Newton was. On the way he met Peter Manton, his old rival, bringing some copy from the reporter for whom he was working. “You think you’re smart with your wheel,” said Peter. “But you can’t use it much longer. The dam is breaking and you will have to swim.” At this news, that the dam was about to give way, Larry put on extra speed. He wanted to be back in time to get some more copy from Mr. Newton, who, he knew, would want to send word for the extra. As he sped along, and hard enough going it was, he heard a dull boom over toward the dam. This was followed by excited shouts. Then came a subdued roar. “The dam has gone!” Larry exclaimed. An instant later he saw a number of people running toward him, and he came to a halt. “I guess I can’t get down there,” thought the boy. “I wonder where Mr. Newton is?” At that moment he saw the reporter coming toward him on the run. “Go back! Go back!” cried Mr. Newton. “The waters are rising fast!” “Did the dam break?” asked Larry, wanting to make sure. “Of course. A big hole right in the middle. Fortunately a part of it held, or the flood would be so sudden that we would have had trouble in getting away. But come on.” “Where are we going?” asked Larry. “Back to the hotel,” replied Mr. Newton. “We’ll be safe there. I want to get a line off to the paper.” “You’ll have to hurry,” said the boy. “The telegraph operator said if the dam broke he’d have to leave.” “Wait, and I’ll scribble a line now,” said the reporter. He hastily wrote something on a piece of paper, addressed it to the _Leader_, and gave it to Larry. “Take it on a jump now, Larry, my boy!” he cried, and Larry rushed off on his wheel. “I’ll meet you at the hotel,” called Mr. Newton after him. Larry reached the telegraph office just as the operator was leaving it. “Wait a minute!” called the boy. “I have some copy for you.” “Can’t wait!” exclaimed the telegraph man. “The water’s rising and I’m going to get out while there’s time.” “This will only take you a second,” said Larry. “It’s got to get to the _Leader_. It tells about the dam breaking. They’re going to get out an extra!”