"Hear a Protestant catering to a papist," observed Peggy. "But it is lost on Angelique. She is as good as engaged to Colonel Menard. She accepted him through the window before all of us, when he came to the rescue." "Must I congratulate him?" Rice inquired of Angelique. "He certainly deserves his good luck." "Peggy has no right to announce it so!" exclaimed Angelique, feeling invaded and despoiled of family privacy. "It is not yet called an engagement." Peggy glanced at Rice Jones, and felt grateful to Heaven for the flood. She admired him with keen appreciation. He took his disappointment as he would have taken an offered flower, considered it without changing a muscle, and complimented the giver. Guns began to be heard from the bluffs in answer to the bells. Peggy leaned out to look across the tossing waste at a dim ridge of shadow which she knew to be the bluffs. The sound bounded over the water. From this front window of the attic some arches of the bridge were always visible. She could not now guess where it crossed, or feel sure that any of its masonry withstood the enormous pressure. The negroes were leaning out of their dormer window, also, and watching the nightmare world into which the sunny peninsula was changed. When a particularly high swell threw foam in their faces they started back, but others as anxious took their places. "Boats will be putting out from the bluffs plentifully, soon," said Rice. "Before to-morrow sunset all Kaskaskia and its goods and chattels will be moved to the uplands." "I wonder what became of the poor cows," mused Angelique. "They were turned out to the common pasture before the storm." "Some of them were carried down by the rivers, and some swam out to the uplands. It is a strange predicament for the capital of a great Territory. But these rich lowlands were made by water, and if they can survive overflow they must be profited by it." "What effect will this have on the election?" inquired Peggy, and Rice laughed. "You can't put us back on our ordinary level, Miss Peggy. We are lifted above elections for the present." "Here is a boat!" she exclaimed, and the slaves at the other window hailed Father Olivier as he tried to steady himself at the angle formed by the roofs. Angelique looked out, but Rice sat still beside his sister. "Are you all quite safe?" shouted the priest. "Quite, father. The slaves were brought in, and we are all in the attic." "Keep up your courage and your prayers. As soon as this strong wind dies away they will put out from shore for you." "Colonel Menard has already been here and taken part of the family." "Has he?" "Yes, father; though tante-gra'mere is afraid to venture yet, so we remain with her." They could see the priest, indistinctly, sitting in a small skiff, which he tried to keep off the roof with a rough paddle. "Where did you find a boat, father?"