Part 54 (2/2)

It was overflowed before we got there, and the water, which must a busted in the window, was a rus.h.i.+ng down the corridor and filling up the place so fast, that we had to run up the stairs to the next story to save our own lives.”

”Heaven's will be done!” groaned Lyon Berners, who, heart-broken as he was, scarcely understood or believed the warden's explanation, or knew whether he himself were merely resigned, or really rejoiced that his wife had met this fate now, rather than lived to await a still more horrible one.

”And the poor woman who was attending her, and the young child, have also perished?” added Mr. Berners, after a pause, and in an interrogative tone.

Beatrix nodded sadly, and the warden said:

”Yes, sir, of course, which they all three being in the cell together, shared the same fate! And if we could a reskeed one, we could a reskeed all!”

”And where are your other prisoners?” inquired Mr. Berners.

”Some on 'em was drownded, sir, unavoidably. And some on 'em we reskeed by taking of 'em through the windows, and on to the boat; but Lord love you, sir, they give us leg bail the first chance they got; which who could blame them? Most on them as we reskeed has made off up the mountain, sir; and little use it would be to try to catch them, sir, even if we succeeded, seeing as we have got no place to lock 'em up. And as for me, my 'okkerpation's gone,' as the man says in the play! But I'm not thinking of myself, sir. I'm mortal sorry for the poor wretches called so sudden to their accounts,” added the warden, brus.h.i.+ng the tears from his eyes with the sleeve of his coat.

”Come, Martin,” said Mr. Berners, who, even in the midst of his own despair, could not forget the claims of humanity--”Come, Martin! You and your companions in misfortune cannot sit here longer without great danger to health and life! You must get up and come away. The road, though very difficult, is pa.s.sable, you see, since we come by it. Come away!”

”Come where? To the alms-house, I suppose,” groaned the warden, dropping his head in his hands.

”My poor fellow, the alms-house has gone with the rest. There is no alms-house now.”

”Then we may as well stay here and die; for there is no other place for us to go,” groaned the ruined man.

”There are half a hundred places to go to. Every house that has been spared by the flood has, in grat.i.tude to Heaven, opened its doors to receive those who are rendered homeless by this disaster. Come, my good friend; come with your companions to the village hotel. A number of us who have lost no property by the flood, have already clubbed together for the relief of those who have lost all. Come! if you sit here longer you will surely catch your death.”

The warden arose with a groan; and his example was followed by all his comrades.

”My dear Beatrix, take my arm,” said Mr. Berners, helping Miss Pendleton to rise.

”My brother! Where is my brother? He was far enough off to be safe from the flood; but why is he not here now.”

”My dear Beatrix, he could not possibly get here yet. As soon as the water shall have settled he will come, no doubt,” said Mr. Berners, as he led her down the hill towards the village.

The road was very bad. In some places it was nearly half a leg deep in pools of water, or in mud. But they reached the half-ruined village at length. And Mr. Berners, accompanied by the whole party, took Miss Pendleton to the hotel to await the arrival of her brother.

All the sufferers were hospitably received by the landlord's family, who furnished them with dry clothing, warm meals, and good lodging.

But it was not until evening that the subsidence of the waters permitted Captain Pendleton to make his way down the valley to the village, to look after his sister.

The meeting between the brother and sister was very affecting.

Beatrix wept on his shoulder.

”Thank Heaven, you are safe, my dear sister!” were among the first words that he said.

”Yes; I am safe, I am safe, Clement. _But she is lost!_ Oh, Clement, _she is lost_!” cried Beatrix, bursting into tears.

Captain Pendleton started, and looked up to the face of Mr. Berners, as if asking for a confirmation or contradiction of these words.

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