Therefore, Curly’s mind was more taken up with plans for getting away from Mr. Jimson than it was with the boss’ remarks about the rising river. Not until some time after supper one of the children ran in with the announcement that there was a “big fire acrosst the river” was the boy shaken out of his secret ponderings.
“That’s got t’ be the hotel, I’ll be whip-sawed if ’taint!” declared Mr. Jimson, starting out into the now drizzling rain without his hat.
Curly followed, because the rest of the family showed interest; but he really did not care. What was a burning hotel to him? Then he heard Mrs. Jimson say:
“Ye don’t mean that’s Holloway’s, Jimson?”
“That’s what she be.”
“And the bridge is down by this time.”
“Sho’s yo’ bawn, Almiry. An’ boats swep’ away, too.”
“An’ like enough the water’s clean up over that islan’. My land, Jimson! that’ll be dretful. Them folks is all caught like rats in a trap. Treed by the river—an’ the hotel afire.”
“It looks like the up-river end of the hotel,” said her husband.
“My land! what’ll Mrs. Parsons say? If anything happens to her niece an’ them other gals——”