A section of the side of the great U, running clear back to a seam which had formed in the dam face, slowly broke out and went down. The water rose like a tide now, very rapidly, because the canyon itself, so narrow and so full of abrupt curves, made no adequate outlet for this augmented flood. The entire lower part of the camp was covered, and the flood, eddying back from the mountain wall, came creeping up toward the top of the grade, covering now this and now that portion of the settlement. One house after another was swept away before their eyes.
Doctor Barnes stood looking out over it all moodily. He did not go back to Mary Gage. Back beyond a few of the soldiers were chattering idly, but no one paid attention to them, for not even they themselves knew that they were talking. But at length a voice, clear and distinct, did come to Doctor Barnes' ears.
"Where is my husband!" cried Mary Gage, breaking away from Annie. "Which is he?"
He turned to her silently. He shook his head.
"I want to see him! I've got to see him. Who's that man?" She pointed.
"That's Wid Gardner," said Doctor Barnes, slowly and gently as he could.
"Those men yonder—those soldiers—is one of them my husband? You said he was a soldier."
"Yes," said Doctor Barnes, "he was a soldier."
Then she guessed at last.
"He was a soldier? Where is he now?" She turned upon him, laying her hands upon his arms. "Where is he now?" she demanded.