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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！〃
A man called Hillsbro' Harry opened the window。
〃The embankrncnt is going。 Fly for your lives！〃
〃Nay；〃 said the man； coolly； 〃Ouseley dam will brust noane this week；〃 and turned to go to bed again。
He found Joseph Galton and another man carrying Mrs。 Galton and her new…born child away in a blanket。 This poor woman； who had sent her five children away on the faith of a dream； was now objecting； in a faint voice； to be saved herself from evident danger。 〃Oh； dear； dear！ you might as well let me go down with the flood as kill me with taking me away。〃
Such was the sapient discourse of Mrs。 Galton； who； half an hour ago； had been supernaturally wise and prudent。 Go to； wise mother and silly woman； men will love thee none the less for the inequalities of thine intellect； and honest Joe will save thy life； and heed thy twaddle no more than the bleating of a lamb。
Ransome had not left the Galtons many yards behind him； when there was a sharp explosion heard up in the hills。
Ransome pulled up and said aloud； 〃It will be all right now； thank goodness！ they have blown up the wear。〃
The words were scarcely out of his mouth when he heard a loud sullen roar； speedily followed by a tremendous hiss； and a rumbling thunder； that shook the very earth where he stood； two miles distant。
This is what had taken place since he left the reservoir； but ten minutes ago。
Mr。 Tucker and Mr。 Carter laid the gunpowder and the train； and lighted the latter； and came back across the middle of the embankment。
Being quite safe here from the effect of the explosion； Mr。 Tucker was desirous to establish by measurement that the water in the reservoir had not risen so high as the crack in the embankment。
With this view he took out a measure； and； at some risk of being swept into eternity； began coolly to measure the crack downward。
At this very time water was trickling over； and that alarmed Carter； and he told Tucker they were trifling with their own lives。
〃Oh；〃 said Tucker； 〃that is only the spray from the waves。〃
They actually measured the crack； stooping over it with their lanterns。
When they had done that； Carter raised his head； and suddenly clutched Tucker by the arm and pointed upward。 The water was pouring over the top； still in a thin sheet； but then that sheet was gradually widening。 The water came down to their feet； and some of it disappeared in the crack； and the crack itself looked a little larger than when last inspected。 Tucker said； gravely； 〃I don't like that： but let me examine the valve…house at once。〃 He got down to the valve…house； but before he could ascertain what quantity of water was escaping Carter called to him； 〃Come out； for God's sake； or you are lost。〃
He came running out； and saw an opening thirty feet wide and nearly a foot deep； and a powerful stream rushing over it。
The moment Tucker saw that； he cried； 〃It's all up； the embankment must go！〃 And； the feeling of the architect overpowering the instincts of the man； he stood aghast。 But Carter laid hold of him； and dragged him away。
Then he came to himself； and they ran across the embankment。
As they started； the powder； which had hung fire unaccountably； went off； and blew up the waste…wear； but they scarcely heard it； for； as they ran； the rent above kept enlarging and deepening at a fearful rate； and the furious stream kept rushing past their flying heels； and threatened to sweep them sideways to destruction。
They were safe at last； but even as they stood panting； the rent in the top of the embankment spreaddeepenedyawned terrificallyand the pent…up lake plunged through； and sweeping away at once the center of the embankment； rushed； roaring and hissing； down the valley； an avalanche of water； whirling great trees up by the roots； and sweeping huge rocks away； and driving them； like corks； for miles。
At that appalling sound； that hissing thunder； the like of which he had never heard before； and hopes never to hear again； Ransome spurred away at all his speed； and warned the rest of the village with loud inarticulate cries： he could not wait to speak； nor was it necessary。
At the top of the hill he turned a moment； and looked up the valley； soon he saw a lofty white wall running down on Hatfield Mill： it struck the mill； and left nothing visible but the roof； surrounded by white foam。
Another moment； and he distinctly saw the mill swim a yard or two； then disappear and leave no trace； and on came the white wall； hissing and thundering。
Ransome uttered a cry of horror； and galloped madly forward； to save what lives he might。
Whenever he passed a house he shrieked his warning； but he never drew rein。
As he galloped along his mind worked。 He observed the valley widen in places； and he hoped the flying lake would spread； and so lose some of that tremendous volume and force before which he had seen Hatfield stone mill go down。
With this hope he galloped on； and reached Poma Bridge； five miles and a half from the reservoir。
Here； to his dismay； he heard the hissing thunder sound as near to him as it was when he halted on the hill above Damflask； but he could see nothing； owing to a turn in the valley。
At the bridge itself he found a man standing without his hat； staring wildly up the valley。
He yelled to this man； 〃Dam is burst。 Warn the villagefor their livesrun on to Hillsboroughwhen you are winded； send another on。 You'll all be paid at the Town Hall。〃
Then he dashed across the bridge。
As he crossed it； he caught sight of the flying lake once more： he had gone over more ground； but he had gone no further。 He saw the white wall strike Dolman's farm； there was a light in one window now。 He saw the farm…house； with its one light； swim bodily； then melt and disappear； with all the poor souls in it。
He galloped on： his hat flew off； he came under the coiners' house； and yelled a warning。 A window was opened； and a man looked out； the light was behind him； and； even in that terrible moment； he recognizedShifty Dick。
〃The flood！ the flood！ Fly！ Get on high ground； for your lives！〃
He galloped furiously； and made for Little's house。
CHAPTER XLIV。
Little took a book； and tried to while away the time till Ransome's return； but he could not command his attention。 The conversation about Grace had excited a topic which excluded every other。
He opened his window； a French casement； and looked out upon the night。
Then he observed that Grace； too； was keeping vigil； for a faint light shot from her window and sparkled on the branches of the plane…tree in her little front garden。
〃And that；〃 thought Henry； sadly； 〃is all I can see of her。 Close to her； yet far offfurther than ever now。〃
A deep sadness fell on him； sadness and doubt。 Suppose he were to lay a trap for her to…morrow； and catch her at her own door！ What good would it do？ He put himself in her place。 That process showed him at once she would come no more。 He should destroy her little bit of patient； quiet happiness； the one daily sunbeam of