Will of the Mill

by George Manville Fenn

Chapter Twenty.

Fighting the Destroyer.

An awful hush of silence. It seemed as if it was too much for human brain to bear. The breath was held pent-up in every breast, so that it might have been the dwelling-place of the dumb.

Then the Vicar’s voice was heard, and the sound thereof was like the key that opened a closed-up door.

“Where’s Mr Willows?” he shouted.

“Here!” came from close at hand, followed by, “And who has seen Will?”

“Here—close by me,” cried Manners.

“Josh! Josh!” shouted Will.

“Here! Here! All right!”

“Then everyone is safe,” cried the boy. “No, no, no!” he shouted, in anguished tones. “Where’s poor old Boil O? He was there just now, standing by that corner. No, no! there is no corner—everything has gone. Oh, surely he can’t be drowned!”