“Yes, but I am safe back, auntie,” she made haste to say; “and everything is right.”
Clara, Melicent, and Betsey were there. No one in the house slept but Mr. Yorke and the two Pattens, and, since the worst was probably over, it was not so much matter now if they waked. So a large fire was kindled, and Edith’s dripping garments taken off, while Patrick told his story. Then she also told where she had been, and smiled at their terror.
“But to cross the river on the logs and boom!” her aunt cried. “Why, child, your escape is a miracle! If you had fallen in, you would surely have been drowned.”
“I could not have drowned tonight,” Edith answered. “If I had fallen in, I should have set the river on fire.”
TO BE CONTINUED.