They both raised their voices to their loudest and shouted long and often. But no reply came.
Shirley glanced carefully about her in the dim light. They stood on the very top of the little hill, and all about them was water. Perhaps a quarter of a mile to the right, however, was another elevation, and this Shirley knew was not merely a similar hill, but high ground that ran back for miles—the land upon which all those in the flooded valley had sought safety.
“I have a plan,” she said quietly to Henderson.
“It’s very simple,” was the reply. “I shall mount the horse, and we shall try and swim through the short expanse of water to the dry ground over there,” and she pointed across the flood.
Henderson started back aghast at the boldness of this plan. Beneath them the water still swished angrily, although it had lost much of its force.
“I’ll not hear of it,” he said shortly. “You shall not risk your life.”
“But,” protested the girl, “we are all likely to become numbed and perish here.”
She shivered slightly as she spoke, for the night air was damp, cold and penetrating.
“I think it is the best way,” she added quietly. “Besides, what danger is there? Hero,” she named the horse in that moment, “can make it all right. All I shall have to do is cling to him tightly.”
“But the current may be very strong,” protested Henderson.
“Not too strong for us, is it, Hero?” she asked the horse, and patted him gently again.
Hero whinnied in reply, and seemed as eager as the girl to make the trial. He seemed to understand the conversation, and besides, he was anxious to reach a place where there was warmth, dry straw and good oats.
“Yes, it is the best way,” said Shirley decisively.
Henderson looked at her closely, then turned away with a sigh, for that one glance was enough to tell him that the young girl would have her way.
He lifted his wife from Hero’s back, and Shirley immediately climbed into the saddle.
“I’ll send a boat for you,” Shirley called over her shoulder, as, with a tug of the reins, she headed Hero into the water.
“Good luck!” called Henderson. “Keep your head, and hold tight. Don’t be swept off the horse’s back.”
Shirley did not reply, but kept her eyes straight ahead.
Gradually Hero sank lower and lower into the water, and then went under suddenly. His feet no longer touched the bottom.