Roger even dozed a little, being more or less accustomed to the noise by this time. But he was electrified to hear Dick suddenly call out:
“I really believe it’s getting lighter, because I can see things out there that I couldn’t a while ago.”
“Yes, you’re right, Dick!” exclaimed the other, as he thrust his head out; “and let me tell you, for one, I’m not sorry that day’s coming. When there’s anything wrong I like to see what I have to meet. This thing of being left in the dark gives me a cold shiver. See, it’s getting lighter every minute. Oh! look at the river, will you? It doesn’t seem like the same one we fished in last night.”
Nor did it, for the heavy rain must have fallen all along the stream, which was rising very fast, and was likely to continue to do so for several hours to come. A flood at this late summer day was doubtless a rare occurrence; but, then, the Missouri has always been known to do the least expected of things, so, with such a cloudburst to help along, even that was liable to happen.
“But thank goodness the rain seems to have stopped, even if the clouds are still hanging overhead,” Roger declared, as he drew his stiffened figure from under the overhanging ledge, and tried to straighten up.
Then the two went, first of all, to see if the horses were there, and to their satisfaction found the poor beasts standing under a tree, as wet as they could possibly be, but apparently not otherwise harmed by the storm.
Afterwards they turned to survey the raging flood.
Between the island and the shore, where the horses had easily waded, there now rushed a torrent that must have been over their heads, and so fierce that even the hardiest swimmer could never have held his own against its power.
“That’s bad enough,” admitted Roger; “but just see how the water is still creeping up on us. It looks to me as if the whole island would soon be covered!”