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Chapter 30
UncleJohnblubbered,«I’llrunaway.ByGod,IgottoworkorI’llrunaway.»
Paturnedfromhim.«How’sshestan’onthelastmarker?»
Themanwiththeflashlightthrewthebeamonthestick.Theraincutwhitelythroughthelight.«Comin’up.»
«She’llcomeupslowernow,"Pasaid.«Gottofloodpurtyfarontheotherside.»
«She’scomin’up,though.»
Thewomenfilledthecoffeepotsandsetthemoutagain.Andasthenightwenton,themenmovedslowerandslower,andtheyliftedtheirheavyfeetlikedrafthorses.Moremudonthelevee,morewillowsinterlaced.Therainfellsteadily.Whentheflashlightturnedonfaces,theeyesshowedstaring,andthemusclesonthecheekswereweltedout.
Foralongtimethescreamscontinuedfromthecar,andatlasttheywerestill.
Pasaid,«Ma’dcallmeifitwasbore.»Hewentonshovelingthemudsullenly.
Thestreameddiedandboiledagainstthebank.Then,fromupthestreamtherecamearippingcrash.Thebeamoftheflashlightshowedagreatcottonwoodtoppling.Themenstoppedtowatch.Thebranchesofthetreesankintothewaterandedgedaroundwiththecurrentwhilethestreamdugoutthelittleroots.Slowlythetreewasfreed,andslowlyitedgeddownthestream.Thewearymenwatched,theirmouthshangingopen.Thetreemovedslowlydown.Thenabranchcaughtonastump,snaggedandheld.Andveryslowlytherootsswungaroundandhookedthemselvesonthenewembankment.Thewaterpiledupbehind.Thetreemovedandtorethebank.Alittlestreamslippedthrough.
