“Some of these women surely will perish unless something is done at once,” said Miss Briggs. “Suggest something, Grace, for the love of heaven.”
“The creek! Help me herd them down on its bank,” answered Grace with ready resource. “Nora! You and Emma must assist. Don’t hesitate. Jump to it! There are men enough to carry water. Lives are of more account than houses.”
The girls sprang to their task with energy. It was not an easy task to which they had assigned themselves, and the first of the women sent to the stream had to be forced there. There were choking protests, but the Overland girls gave no heed, as there was no time for argument, and seconds wasted might mean loss of lives.
“If your clothes catch fire, duck into the creek,” was the advice shouted over and over again to the village women by Grace and her companions. “Keep close to the shore or you may be swept off your feet and carried downstream.”
The latter part of the Overlanders’ advice was not heeded in every instance, and now and then one of the girls found it necessary to haul ashore some woman who was in danger of being carried away by the current.
As the heat in the village increased in intensity, shivering women and children were standing in the creek’s cold waters, protecting themselves from the burning air by covering their heads with wetted articles of clothing.
Another peril found them there. Logs, broken, charred tree-limbs, were rolling and tumbling down with the stream. Something hit Elfreda, who was dragging a woman to safety, and pushed the girl under. Struggle as she would, Miss Briggs was unable for some time to extricate herself, though she did manage to keep her head above water. Her skirts had caught on the branches of what proved to be the bushy top of a tree, and she was swept away on the current.
After what seemed hours Elfreda succeeded in freeing herself, and permitted herself to float while she rested, breathing hard from her exertions.
The village of Silver Creek had disappeared in the distance. A roaring sound came to Elfreda’s ears, which she soon discovered was caused by the rushing current of a turbulent river.
“Mercy! What am I coming to?” cried the girl in her extremity. Elfreda was frightened, but by no means panic-stricken. “Oh, this surely is the end!” gasped the girl as she found herself suddenly whirled into wild waters.