4 ACORN The Flood "Yes, Mr. Denton, it's been many years since this dam was put in here, but I think it will last a good while yet," said the elderly gentleman, who was showing the visitor the reservoir which supplied the two small cities of Alton and Trenton. "It doesn't take long to break down if it once gets a start, though. The men must work pretty lively, and ten chances to one they wouldn't discover the break until it was too late, even if they do keep good watch over it," said Denton. "Yes, that's true, too," returned his companion, "there's been two floods since the reservoir was built, but I trust there won't be any more. They spent a big sum of money in making it secure. By the way, I have an engagement in Alton at 5 :30 tonight. George! and I've hardly time to make it. 'Come, lad,' he said, turning to the fourteen-year-old boy at his side," you must take me to town and in double quick time, too. Sorry I have to leave you, Mr. Denton." They hurried off and reached the town, which lay about four miles away, just in time to fill the appointment. Great heavens! what was that? The boy started up blindly from his bed. That awful roaring and rushing was he dreaming or was it possible that the dam had broken. Len rubbed his eyes, but no need for more doubting. The water was now at his feet and beating and splashing against the doors and around the corners of the house. What could he do? There was no time to wait, every minute the water was rising higher. His terror increased when he remembered that he could not swim. Groping his way to the door he opened it. The water rushed in wildly almost lifting him from his feet, but he caught the door casing just in time. Where should he go now. His brain was in a whirl. If he could only climb up on the house, but no, that would not do, the house would soon be floating away and he would be lost in wild whirling waters. Suddenly, like an inspiration, the thought of climbing a tree came to him. He managed to stay on his feet until he reached the nearest one, then crept like a hunted animal up into the branches. The waters around rose righer and higher and Len climbed up until the limbs could scarcely support him. Slowly the night hours dragged on and he was numb with pain and shivering with cold. Would no one come to save him? A thousand times the question came to him and a thousand times the answer ACORN 5 was the same. At last the first streaks of dawn appeared in the sky, yet no hope for his safety. All around was water and wrecks of buildings, but no living being in sight. Perchance, though there may be a rescuing party out, he thought, and a little hope flamed up in his heart. Then thinking to make whoever it might be, acquainted with his whereabouts, he back save the ceaseless dashing and splashing of the water. Still he began calling with all his might, "Help! Help!" But no answer came called and called until he was so exhausted that he clutched, half fainting now, a limb of the tree. He felt that his strength would not last much longer and in a sort of half whisper he said a good-bye to the one dearest of all in the world, his father. Just then the sun rose over the mountain tops. Its bright rays roused the half conscious boy and he looked around him. "A boat! a boat! I'm saved," he screamed. It seemed that all his strength came back to him in that moment of joy and waving one arm frantically, he called, "Help! Help! and a few minutes later was safely in the rescuer's boat. As the party rowed away, Len learned that Alton also lay buried in water. A terrible fear clutched his heart. What if his father had not escaped the flood? Reaching Alton, they made search, but no trace of the father could be found. One year had passed since the great flood in Alton and Trenton, but Len Carson had still found no trace of his father and, believing him to be dead, was dependent upon himself for his living. He went into one of the larger cities, where he would be likely to find work. It was nearing evening after a hard day's work and Len had one more paper to sell in order to buy his supper. It seemed to the tired, urchin that everybody was too busy to notice him and he had almost decided to go without supper when a gentleman stepped out of a store. "Have a paper?" called the boy. The man walked on a few steps then turned about and came back. "Believe I will have one," he said. That voice the boy looked closely into his face. "Father! father! don't you know me?" cried the boy.