Higher and higher rose that deafening thunder, until it dulled the postboy's hearing and fairly made his senses reel. Glancing wildly back he saw that the foaming avalanche of water was sweeping everything before it! The narrow valley was completely filled from mountainside to mountainside! There was no way for him to scale the rugged heights overhanging him in season to escape the flood. His only hope lay in continued flight—in reaching the mouth of the valley before he could be overtaken by the monster at his heels! Every moment saw it so much nearer, but while life and his fleet-footed horse were left him he was bound not to lose courage. Just before reaching the extension of the mountain gorge, the defile made an abrupt turn, bringing him who followed its course into a sudden view of the wider regions beyond. Almost the first sight to greet the comer's eye was a rambling wooden building standing half on the land and half over the stream. This was called Swett's Mills, and a few rods below stood the house of the owner. Even under the spell of his own great danger, Little Snap realized the deadly peril of every one at this place. Thus, as he dashed on, he shouted to them a warning of their impending doom. "The river has broken through the dam! Flee for your lives!" The men at the mill had already been called from their work by the unaccountable noise up the valley, and as the postboy sped into sight, they saw behind him the frightful wall of water. Instantly Mr. Swett recognized peril, and shouted: "Run for your lives, boys! Help me save my family." Little Snap was already abreast of the mills, and he saw Mrs. Swett and her little child just leaving the house, with cries of terror. "Run, Mary!" shrieked her husband. "The flood is upon us!" In her fright, the poor woman started to run, catching at her child and missing it. With a loud cry the little one fell to the earth, Mr. Swett running toward it as fast as he could. Little Snap sped past him, and reining his bay close to the struggling child, he leaned over in his seat until he could reach the helpless one. Then he lifted it up in front of him, and keeping on with unabating speed, swept down the valley. Mr. Swett's companions had sought safety on the mountainside, and he himself ran down the road after his terrified wife. A short distance beyond, the valley of the Kanawha was reached, and the great danger was mainly over. None too soon was this escape accomplished, for Little Snap had not checked the speed of his horse, as he dashed up the side of the declivity near the road, when a deafening crash told him that the runaway river had reached the mills. The next moment the floodwall seemed to burst, the water spreading out on either hand with startling effect. It was such a sight as those few witnesses had never seen before and never wanted to again. The deep channel of the Kanawha was suddenly filled to overflowing, so the entire valley was under water.