"Oh, my babies' pictures!" she cried. "My dear babies! I must have them."
The poor frightened little woman rushed about the house looking for the much-prized pictures of her babies that were in heaven.
"It's a good thing they all have a safe home to-night," she thought, "for their mother could not give them safety if they were here."
"Come, Mary!" called Peter, outside. "That dam is swaying like a tree-top, and it will go over any minute." With one last look at the little home Mrs. Burns went out and closed the door.
Outside there were people from all along the road. Some driven out of their homes in alarm, others having turned out to help their neighbors.
The watchmen had left the bank. A torrent from the dam would surely wash that away, and brave as the men were they could not watch the flood any longer.
"Get past the willows quick!" called the men. "Let everybody who is not needed hurry up the road!"
Mr. Mason, Mr. Hopkins, Uncle Daniel, and John, besides Peter Burns, were the men most active in the life-saving work. There were not many boats to be had, but what there were had been brought inland early in the day, for otherwise they would have been washed away long before down the stream into the river.
"What's that?" called Uncle Daniel, as there was a heavy crash over near the gates.
Then everybody listened breathless.