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rather live near the bay than the river； whose banks might overflow
at any time。 But was it the tide？ So she ran again to the back
door； and threw out a stick of wood。 It drifted away toward the
bay。 She scooped up some of the water and put it eagerly to her
lips。 It was fresh and sweet。 It was the river； and not the tide！
It was thenO God be praised for his goodness！ she did neither
faint nor fall； it was thenblessed be the Saviour； for it was his
merciful hand that touched and strengthened her in this awful
momentthat fear dropped from her like a garment； and her
trembling ceased。 It was then and thereafter that she never lost
her self…command； through all the trials of that gloomy night。
She drew the bedstead toward the middle of the room； and placed a
table upon it and on that she put the cradle。 The water on the
floor was already over her ankles； and the house once or twice
moved so perceptibly； and seemed to be racked so； that the closet
doors all flew open。 Then she heard the same rasping and thumping
against the wall； and； looking out； saw that a large uprooted tree；
which had lain near the road at the upper end of the pasture； had
floated down to the house。 Luckily its long roots dragged in the
soil and kept it from moving as rapidly as the current； for had it
struck the house in its full career； even the strong nails and
bolts in the piles could not have withstood the shock。 The hound
had leaped upon its knotty surface； and crouched near the roots
shivering and whining。 A ray of hope flashed across her mind。 She
drew a heavy blanket from the bed； and； wrapping it about the babe；
waded in the deepening waters to the door。 As the tree swung
again； broadside on； making the little cabin creak and tremble； she
leaped on to its trunk。 By God's mercy she succeeded in obtaining
a footing on its slippery surface； and； twining an arm about its
roots； she held in the other her moaning child。 Then something
cracked near the front porch； and the whole front of the house she
had just quitted fell forwardjust as cattle fall on their knees
before they lie downand at the same moment the great redwood tree
swung round and drifted away with its living cargo into the black
night。
For all the excitement and danger； for all her soothing of her
crying babe； for all the whistling of the wind； for all the
uncertainty of her situation； she still turned to look at the
deserted and water…swept cabin。 She remembered even then； and she
wonders how foolish she was to think of it at that time； that she
wished she had put on another dress and the baby's best clothes；
and she kept praying that the house would be spared so that he；
when he returned； would have something to come to； and it wouldn't
be quite so desolate； andhow could he ever know what had become
of her and baby？ And at the thought she grew sick and faint。 But
she had something else to do besides worrying； for whenever the
long roots of her ark struck an obstacle； the whole trunk made half
a revolution； and twice dipped her in the black water。 The hound；
who kept distracting her by running up and down the tree and
howling； at last fell off at one of these collisions。 He swam for
some time beside her； and she tried to get the poor beast up on the
tree； but he 〃acted silly〃 and wild； and at last she lost sight of
him forever。 Then she and her baby were left alone。 The light
which had burned for a few minutes in the deserted cabin was
quenched suddenly。 She could not then tell whither she was
drifting。 The outline of the white dunes on the peninsula showed
dimly ahead； and she judged the tree was moving in a line with the
river。 It must be about slack water； and she had probably reached
the eddy formed by the confluence of the tide and the overflowing
waters of the river。 Unless the tide fell soon； there was present
danger of her drifting to its channel； and being carried out to sea
or crushed in the floating drift。 That peril averted； if she were
carried out on the ebb toward the bay； she might hope to strike one
of the wooded promontories of the peninsula； and rest till
daylight。 Sometimes she thought she heard voices and shouts from
the river； and the bellowing of cattle and bleating of sheep。 Then
again it was only the ringing in her ears and throbbing of her
heart。 She found at about this time that she was so chilled and
stiffened in her cramped position that she could scarcely move； and
the baby cried so when she put it to her breast that she noticed
the milk refused to flow； and she was so frightened at that； that
she put her head under her shawl； and for the first time cried
bitterly。
When she raised her head again； the boom of the surf was behind
her； and she knew that her ark had again swung round。 She dipped
up the water to cool her parched throat； and found that it was salt
as her tears。 There was a relief； though； for by this sign she
knew that she was drifting with the tide。 It was then the wind
went down； and the great and awful silence oppressed her。 There
was scarcely a ripple against the furrowed sides of the great trunk
on which she rested； and around her all was black gloom and quiet。
She spoke to the baby just to hear herself speak； and to know that
she had not lost her voice。 She thought thenit was queer； but
she could not help thinking ithow awful must have been the night
when the great ship swung over the Asiatic peak； and the sounds of
creation were blotted out from the world。 She thought； too； of
mariners clinging to spars； and of poor women who were lashed to
rafts； and beaten to death by the cruel sea。 She tried to thank
God that she was thus spared； and lifted her eyes from the baby；
who had fallen into a fretful sleep。 Suddenly； away to the
southward； a great light lifted itself out of the gloom； and
flashed and flickered； and flickered and flashed again。 Her heart
fluttered quickly against the baby's cold cheek。 It was the
lighthouse at the entrance of the bay。 As she was yet wondering；
the tree suddenly rolled a little； dragged a little； and then
seemed to lie quiet and still。 She put out her hand and the
current gurgled against it。 The tree was aground； and； by the
position of the light and the noise of the surf； aground upon the
Dedlow Marsh。
Had it not been for her baby； who was ailing and croupy； had it not
been for the sudden drying up of that sensitive fountain； she would
have felt safe and relieved。 Perhaps it was this which tended to
make all her impressions mournful and gloomy。 As the tide rapidly
fell； a great flock of black brent fluttered by her； screaming and
crying。 Then the plover flew up and piped mournfully as they
wheeled around the trunk； and at last fearlessly lit upon it like a
gray cloud。 Then the heron flew over and around her； shrieking and
protesting； and at last dropped its gaunt legs only a few yards
from her。 But； strangest of all； a pretty white bird； larger than
a dovelike a pelican； but not a pelicancircled around and
around her。 At last it lit upon a rootlet of the tree； quite over
her shoulder。 She put out her hand and stroked its beautiful white
neck； and it never appeared to move。 It stayed there so long that
she thought she would lift up the baby to see it； and try to
attract her attention。 But when she did so； the child was so
chilled and cold； and had such a blue look under the little lashes
which it didn't raise at all； that she screamed aloud； and the bird
flew away； and she fainted。
Well； that was the worst of it； and perhaps it was not so much；
after all； to any but herself。 For when she recovered her senses
it was bright sunlight； and dead low water。 There was a confused
noise of guttural voices about her； and an old squaw； singing an
Indian 〃hushaby；〃 and rocking herself from side to side before a
fire built on the marsh； before which she； the recovered wife and
mother； lay weak and weary。 Her first thought was for her baby；
and she was about to speak； when a young squaw； who must have been
a mother herself； fathomed her thought and brought her the
〃mowitch；〃 pale but living； in such a queer little willow cradle
all bound up； just like the squaw's own young one； that she laughed
and cried together； and the young squaw and the old squaw showed
their big white teeth and glinted their black eyes and said；
〃Plenty get well； skeena mowitch；〃 〃wagee man come plenty soon；〃
and she could have kissed their brown faces in her joy。 And then
she found that they had been gathering berries on the marsh in
their queer； comical baskets； and saw the skirt of her gown
fluttering on the tree from afar； and the old squaw couldn't resist
the temptation of procuring a new garment； and came down and
discovered the 〃wagee〃 woman and child。 And of course she gave the
garment to the old squaw； as you may imagine； and when HE came at
last and rushed up to her； lo