Little Snap was leisurely approaching the pole bridge that spanned Tripping Waters, when all at once a deep roaring sound reached his ears.
Abruptly reining in his horse, he listened for a moment, to find that the sound was rapidly increasing.
It seemed nearer, too, and more deadly in its sound!
He glanced wildly up the valley, but from his position he could see nothing to explain the heavy, booming thunder still growing louder and louder!
He had never heard anything like it.
The ground beneath him began to tremble and the mountain to shake!
He touched his horse smartly, fearing to remain there longer.
But the animal had not taken the second bound before the heart of Little Snap seemed to come into his mouth, as he suddenly realized the meaning of the awful sound.
A mile above, a dam had been built across the river to hold back the water for the benefit of a mill at the lower end of the valley.
This barrier had broken down, and the flood let loose!