Part 5 (1/2)
CHAPTER IV.
”WHAT HAVE YOU HEARD?”
What was to be done now?
”This is a greater bother than any of the others,” said Alfy. ”I expect I shall have to wade or swim now, if I can. Then I must run to the village in my wet things. But how shall I get back to the house?
Bother the tub, I say! However did it get loose?”
The reason was that he had not fastened it very firmly; but then he did not expect he would be so long in the tree, nor did he think the current of the water would have such influence.
But the tub had gone, and he must do the best he could without it.
From his perch in the tree he could obtain a clear view of the flood.
The muddy water glistened in the bright suns.h.i.+ne, as though trying to look pleasant.
The house was, as we have said, in a hollow, or depression of the ground, and the flood, Alfy could see distinctly, came from some way behind the house, and flowed round and past it; but whence it came, or whither it went, he could not discover.
”It can't come from the river,” he said thoughtfully, ”for that is in a different direction. I cannot imagine what causes it.”
Sundry things he noticed were floating on its surface.
Here was a quant.i.ty of hay, sailing slowly and solidly along in a fairly compact ma.s.s; farther on a little yellow straw flashed in the suns.h.i.+ne; not far off again pieces of wood floated; and then, curiously enough, a little tin hand-bowl bobbing about quite pertly, as it was borne along. That tin bowl gave him an idea.
”I know!” he cried; ”I will ask Mansy and Edie to send off the old tin bath to me from the house.”
Thereupon he shouted loudly to attract their attention.
At first they did not answer, and he could hear various sounds, indicating that Mansy was endeavouring to repair some of the mischief done by the flood. ”They are busy,” he said, and again he cried, louder this time than before.
His shouts attracted Edie's attention, and she hastened to the window, where her exclamation of surprise soon brought the others. ”Bless the boy!” exclaimed Mansy, ”however did he get there? Where's the tub?”
”Can you send me the old bath?” he cried.
The girls disappeared hastily from the window, and Mansy cried again: ”You are never going to get into that bath, Master Alfy, sure_ly_!”
”Oh! I can manage it,” he replied briskly, ”if you can send it down to the tree. Tell them to put a pole or something in it, dear Mansy, for me to paddle it with.”
”You must be quick, Alfy, and get us some provisions,” urged Mansy, ”or I don't know what we shall do. We shall get starved!”
Alfy laughed in the gaiety of his heart. He was a merry, cheerful, plucky little lad, who could not talk religion, but strove to act it.
Nelson's grand words, ”England expects every man to do his duty,” was his motto, unexpressed though it was.
”Never fear, Mansy,” he cried, ”I'll be back in good time. You shall have plenty to cook and eat to-day!”
Then Mansy disappeared from the window, and Alfy soon heard sounds, as though the bath were being brought along. It was a somewhat high-backed sitz bath, which had seen some service in the family.
Splas.h.!.+
Over it went from the window, and of course it fell bottom-upwards!