All his life Tip Lange, living in the town of Lawrence, had been accustomed to seeing that broad and fertile valley green with growing crops and grass and trees in the summer, or covered with a white mantle of snow when the season changed. But now it lay there a tremendous inland sea, water everywhere, with bunches of trees, or it might be farmhouses and barns, visible in various quarters.
Fences were mostly far under the surface. Some people were paddling around on hastily constructed rafts, and trying desperately to save a small portion of their personal property. A few boats were also in evidence, but these seemed to be leaky, and of little value so far as doing the work of rescue went.
“Why, it must be all of two miles across from hill to hill!” declared Billy, as he stared in awe at the wonderful sight, and began to realize more than ever the majesty of such an amazing flood, backing up into the valleys, and inundating a thousand homes and farms.
“Those who were wise got to the hills long ago, I reckon,” Monkey Stallings ventured to say, as they began to push along swiftly through this inland sea.
“And let’s hope that covers most of the people living in the valley,” Hugh added. “There are always some who will not believe things can be as bad as they seem to their neighbors; or who hate to leave their property so much that they take the risk of staying. Those are the kind we’ve got to find and help.”
“I only hope we can do it all before night comes along,” said Tip, “because if the water keeps on rising it will be a terrible night for anybody stranded in a farmhouse, with the rain beating down, and mebbe the wind blowing great guns, for they say there’s another furious storm headed this way, you know.”
“What shall we do first, Hugh?” asked Billy.
“I’m depending on you fellows to use your eyes and tell me if you can see a white flag of distress waving in any direction,” the pilot replied. “It would seem that if people wanted to be taken off they’d have the sense to rig up some sort of a signal of distress.”
“Why, over there, those people in that boat are waving to us now!” cried Monkey Stallings. “They seem to be baling out at a crazy rate, and I guess the old ship is threatening to sink under ’em.”
Hugh instantly changed his course, and headed for the foundering boat. Those who were aboard the craft did not cease their efforts to keep afloat, and doubtless watched the approaching launch with anxious eyes.