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The Flood

           "Goonfast,"wasthereply.

           Thiswaseasiersaidthandone.Thehorsessoontiredoftreadingovergroundthatgavewayateverystep.Itsankeachmomentmoreandmore,tillitseemedhalfunderwater.

           Theyquickenedtheirpace,butcouldnotgofastenoughtoescapethewater,whichrolledingreatsheetsattheirfeet.Beforetwohoursthecataractsoftheskyopenedanddelugedtheplainintruetropicaltorrentsofrain.Neverwasthereafineroccasionfordisplayingphilosophicequanimity.Therewasnoshelter,andnothingforitbuttobearitstolidly.Theponchoswerestreamingliketheoverflowinggutter-spoutsontheroofofahouse,andtheunfortunatehorsemenhadtosubmittoadoublebath,fortheirhorsesdashedupthewatertotheirwaistsateverystep.

           Inthisdrenching,shiveringstate,andwornoutwithfatigue,theycametowardeveningtoamiserableRANCHO,whichcouldonlyhavebeencalledashelterbypeoplenotveryfastidious,andcertainlyonlytravelersinextremitywouldevenhaveenteredit;butGlenarvanandhiscompanionshadnochoice,andweregladenoughtoburrowinthiswretchedhovel,thoughitwouldhavebeendespisedbyevenapoorIndianofthePampas.Amiserablefireofgrasswaskindled,whichgaveoutmoresmokethanheat,andwasverydifficulttokeepalight,asthetorrentsofrainwhichdashedagainsttheruinedcabinoutsidefoundtheirwaywithinandfelldowninlargedropsfromtheroof.TwentytimesoverthefirewouldhavebeenextinguishedifMulradyandWilsonhadnotkeptoffthewater.

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