"Run, Mary!" shrieked her husband. "The flood is upon us!"
In her fright, the poor woman started to run, catching at her child and missing it.
With a loud cry the little one fell to the earth, Mr. Swett running toward it as fast as he could.
Little Snap sped past him, and reining his bay close to the struggling child, he leaned over in his seat until he could reach the helpless one.
Then he lifted it up in front of him, and keeping on with unabating speed, swept down the valley.
Mr. Swett's companions had sought safety on the mountainside, and he himself ran down the road after his terrified wife.
A short distance beyond, the valley of the Kanawha was reached, and the great danger was mainly over.
None too soon was this escape accomplished, for Little Snap had not checked the speed of his horse, as he dashed up the side of the declivity near the road, when a deafening crash told him that the runaway river had reached the mills.
The next moment the floodwall seemed to burst, the water spreading out on either hand with startling effect.
It was such a sight as those few witnesses had never seen before and never wanted to again.