“Ya-as. Thar’s never been sich a rain in these parts sense the rainy season seven years ago. A half a day’s rainin’ raised the river then till the Two Islands were completely kivered, sumthin’ that has never been done sense.” “What are we to do, if the island is overflown?” asked Town. “That’s easier axed than answered, lad. The wind is tossin’ the seethin’ waters up into little mountains--ah! hear ’em dash upon the island! We could never stick to a raft--the waves ’d wash us away like lumps o’ dirt.” “God in heaven, are we to perish thus?” cried Town., gazing out upon the roaring river. “Never say die, lad,” returned the scout, “there’s hope as long as thar’s life. We may escape yit.” “How?” “By climbin’ into one o’ the large saplin’s outside.” “True, true; I had never thought of that. But will not the floating debris lodge against the bushes and bear them down?” “Thar’ll be danger, but it’s our only resort, Town.” “Then let us hasten to climb the saplings, for already I can hear the water creeping among the undergrowth, like a serpent--there--Heavens!” It was a huge wave that dashed upon the island and rolled half a knee deep over--crept into the cabin and drowned out the fire. For the next half-minute the two men stood wrapped in total darkness, with the wild, seething waters rolling around them. Then a prolonged flare of the red lightning revealed the swollen river and the dark wood-land beyond. Wave after wave dashing against the island warned the old scout and Town. of their danger. Procuring their weapons, they climbed into the largest sapling upon the island, and seated themselves securely among the topmost branches. They now found themselves some ten feet above the surface of the island. The tree was of sufficient size and strength to withstand the pressure of the flood in case no heavy weight of floating debris lodged against it. The wind blew so fierce that it required every effort of our two friends to keep their seats in the tree. It was but a few minutes until they were drenched to the skin, though the green foliage around them protected them, in a great measure, from the driving force of the rain. Half an hour after they had sought their new retreat, a huge wave rolled over the island and swept the hut away. In a few minutes more the Two Islands were entirely submerged, and the wild waves booming over them. Not until the approach of day did the storm break away. As the sun arose the rain ceased to fall, the wind went down, the clouds became broken, and in a few minutes the blue vault was sparkling clear and bright. Our friends breathed an air of relief, but their heads grew dizzy when they gazed on the roaring flood beneath them. Out upon either side the water had overflown the river banks and spread out a hundred yards into the bottom. Its turbulent current was black with floating logs and debris.