Beadle's Dime Novels No. 35: East and West — page 55: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

EXPEDITION ACROSS THE CREEK. Bd “Cowards are seldom ‘fair’ when a crisis is at hand,” Constance owned. “ Yet I am anxious for the safety of all. Can not you, uncle, think of some plan to avoid accident, in case the flood should come here ?” Everybody was against such a supposition, because no such thing had happened, in the memory of the “ oldest inhabi- tant,” as the river overflowing this point of land. The creek ~ was already full, and overflowing in places where the bank was low; yet the dam seemed likely to stand, and as for the mill—that could never fall, unless the Missouri changed its channel to this spot. After all, Mr. Willard was too soft-hearted to witness the uneasiness of his niece. “If there was anybody here to go,” said he, “ send word to the boys to be looking out for what might happen ; but I’m rather sore and stiff for handling a boat.” “ Tam quite at your service, sir,’ Fletcher responded. He had been a silent, but not indifferent witness of the question “ before the house.” The look he had that day taken of the Missouri “on a high,” had inspired him with a wholesome awe of such occasions; and he could not forget that he had seen among floating trees, and all imaginable rubbish, the dead bodies of cattle, and even of one man. “ Well, then, if you’re minded to go over,” said Mr. Wil- lard, “just tell the boys to keep a sharp look-out round the mull to-night, and see if the water gets in much round the foundations. And tell Nat to let down the bars—I guess the Cattle won't go off, they’re pretty tired. I wish Frank’s horse Was at home—that stable is a mere board-box.” By such remarks, Mr. Willard betrayed that the possibility of disaster was present to his secret thoughts, though he liked not to admit it. “ We haven’t any milk to-night, Minnie, ” said Mrs. Willard. “ You'd better go over to the cabin with Mr. Harris, and see if Hannah has sayed some for us; and tell her if she is afraid to stay alone, she can some back with you.” Charged with these commissions, Fletcher and Minnie stepping into the boat, when her father called them: again. “ Oh, Harris ! I guess the ~ Spe to do after all, is to conmicbooks.comnm