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swiftly across the crescent moon that she seemed flying across the sky。
Having now realized that the embankment； huge as it was； was not so high by several hundred feet as nature builds in parallel cases； and that； besides the natural pressure of the whole water； the upper surface of the lake was being driven by the wind against the upper or thin part of the embankment； Ransome turned and went down the embankment to look at the crack and hear opinions。
There were several workmen； an intelligent farmer called Ives； and Mr。 Mountain； one of the contractors who had built the dam； all examining the crack。
Mr。 Mountain was remarking that the crack was perfectly dry； a plain proof there was no danger。
〃Ay； but；〃 said Ives； 〃it has got larger since tea…time； see； I can get my hand in now。〃
〃Can you account for that？〃 asked Ransome of the contractor。
Mountain said it was caused by the embankment settling。 〃Everything settles down a littlehouses and embankments and all。 There's no danger； Mr。 Ransome； believe me。〃
〃Well； sir；〃 said Ransome； 〃I am not a man of science； but I have got eyes； and I see the water is very high； and driving against your weak part。 Ah！〃 Then he remembered Little's advice。 〃Would you mind opening the sluice…pipes？〃
〃Not in the least； but I think it is the engineer's business to give an order of that kind。〃
〃But he is not here； and professional etiquette must give way where property and lives； perhaps； are at stake。 To tell you the truth； Mr。 Mountain； I have got the advice of an abler man than Mr。 Tucker。 His word to me was； 'If the water is as high as they say； don't waste time； but open the sluices and relieve the dam。'〃
The workmen who had said scarcely a word till then； raised an assenting murmur at the voice of common sense。
Mountain admitted it could do no harm； and gave an order accordingly； screws wore applied and the valves of the double set of sluice…pipes were forced open； but with infinite difficulty； owing to the tremendous pressure of the water。
This operation showed all concerned what a giant they were dealing with； while the sluices were being lifted； the noise and tremor of the pipes were beyond experience and conception。 When； after vast efforts； they were at last got open； the ground trembled violently； and the water； as it rushed out of the pipes； roared like discharges of artillery。 So hard is it to resist the mere effect of the senses； that nearly every body ran back appalled； although the effect of all this roaring could only be to relieve the pressure； and； in fact； now that those sluices were opened； the dam was safe； provided it could last a day or two。
Lights were seen approaching； and Mr。 Tucker； the resident engineer； drove up； he had Mr。 Carter； one of the contractors； in the gig with him。
He came on the embankment； and signified a cold approval of the sluices being opened。
Then Ransome sounded him about blowing up the waste…wear。
Tucker did not reply； but put some questions to a workman or two。 Their answers showed that they considered the enlargement of the crack a fatal sign。
Upon this Mr。 Tucker ordered them all to stand clear of the suspected part。
〃Now； then；〃 said he； 〃I built this embankment； and I'll tell you whether it is going to burst or not。〃
Then he took a lantern； and was going to inspect the crack himself； but Mr。 Carter； respecting his courage and coolness； would accompany him。 They went to the crack； examined it carefully with their lanterns； and then crossed over to the waste…wear； no water was running into it in the ordinary way； which showed the dam was not full to its utmost capacity。
They returned； and consulted with Mountain。
Ransome put in his word； and once more remembering Little's advice； begged them to blow up the waste…wear。
Tucker thought that was a stronger measure than the occasion required； there was no immediate danger； and the sluice…pipes would lower the water considerably in twenty…four hours。
Farmer Ives put in his word。 〃I can't learn from any of you that an enlarging crack in a new embankment is a common thing。 I shall go home； but my boots won't come off this night。〃
Encouraged by this； Mr。 Mountain； the contractor； spoke out。
〃Mr。 Tucker；〃 said he； 〃don't deceive yourself； the sluice…pipes are too slow； if we don't relieve the dam； there'll be a blow…up in half an hour； mark my words。〃
〃Well；〃 said Mr。 Tucker； 〃no precaution has been neglected in building this dam： provision has been made even for blowing up the waste…wear； a hole has been built in the masonry； and there's dry powder and a fuse kept at the valve…house。 I'll blow up the waste… wear； though I think it needless。 I am convinced that crack is above the level of the water in the reservoir。〃
This observation struck Ransome； and he asked if it could not be ascertained by measurement。
〃Of course it can；〃 said Tucker； 〃and I'll measure it as I come back。〃
He then started for the wear； and Carter accompanied him。
They crossed the embankment； and got to the wear。
Ives went home； and the workmen withdrew to the side； not knowing exactly what might be the effect of the explosion。
By…and…by Ransome looked up； and observed a thin sheet of water beginning to stream over the center of the embankment and trickle down： the quantity was nothing； but it alarmed him。 Having no special knowledge on these matters； he was driven to comparisons； and it flashed across him that； when he was a boy； and used to make little mud…dams in April； they would resist the tiny stream until it trickled over them； and from that moment their fate was sealed。 Nature； he had observed； operates alike in small things and great； and that sheet of water； though thin as a wafer； alarmed him。
He thought it was better to give a false warning than withhold a true one； he ran to his horse； jumped on him； and spurred away。
His horse was fast and powerful； and carried him in three minutes back to Emden's farm。 The farmer had gone to bed。 Ransome knocked him up； and told him he feared the dam was going； then galloped on to Hatfield Mill。 Here he found the miller and his family all gathered outside； ready for a start； one workman had run down from the reservoir。
〃The embankment is not safe。〃
〃So I hear。 I'll take care of my flour and my folk。 The mill will take care of itself。〃 And he pointed with pride to the solid structure and granite pillars。
Ransome galloped on； shouting as he went。
The shout was taken up ahead； and he heard a voice crying in the night； 〃IT'S COMING！ IT'S COMING！〃 This weird cry； which； perhaps； his own galloping and shouting had excited； seemed like an independent warning； and thrilled him to the bone。 He galloped through Hatfield； shouting； 〃Save yourselves！ Save yourselves！〃 and the people poured out； and ran for high ground； shrieking wildly； looking back； he saw the hill dotted with what he took for sheep at first； but it was the folk in their night…clothes。
He galloped on to Damflask； still shouting as he went。
At the edge of the hamlet； he found a cottage with no light in it； he dismounted and thundered at the door： 〃Escape for your lives！ for your lives！〃
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