Beside them stood the old Priest, his long white hair shining in the sunshine.
"My children, let us pray to the good God for any living things that are in danger!" he said.
The peasants fell upon their knees.
"Save them! Save them!" they cried, imploringly, "and save our cattle and houses!"
The blue sky stretched overhead, all round the garden the birch trees shed their quivering glory; the very flowers that the three children had picked for their mother, in the morning, lay on a table fresh and unfaded; yet it seemed to Elena that years must have passed by since she stood there, careless and happy.
"Oh, Boris, come with me!" she cried, passionately, "I can't bear it!"
Boris, with the tears falling slowly from his eyes, followed his sister up to the tower, and there they remained till evening, straining their eyes over the wide stretch of desolate-looking water.
CHAPTER IV.
It was some months afterwards. The flood was over, and the people of Viletna had begun to rebuild their log houses, and collect what could be found of their scattered belongings.