logs and started at a run through the water. Gasping for breath, he reached the Cubs.
With increasing tenseness, everyone waited for the explosion. Minutes passed and it did not come.
“The fuse has damped out,” Dobbs muttered. “I’ll go back and see what’s happened.”
“No, wait!” Mr. Silverton commanded, placing a restraining hand on the man’s arm.
Even as he spoke, there came a terrific blast which shook the ground where the Cubs stood. Logs were hurled helter-skelter as the pile of debris broke up.
“She’s moving out!” Dobbs cried jubilantly.
Wading to the stream’s edge, the Cubs watched the splintered logs float off downstream.
A few of the larger pieces at either side of the jam had not been dislodged by the blast, but the gap was large enough for the main flow of the torrent to pour through.
“The water level will lower rapidly now,” Mr. Silverton said in satisfaction.
Soon the Cubs observed for themselves that damp rings were appearing on the bases of the trunks of nearby trees, indicating that the flood was receding.
“The danger here is past,” declared Mr. Hatfield. “But on the river, I fear it’s a different story.”
“Do you suppose the Holloway place is under water?” Brad asked anxiously.
“Not the house,” the Cub leader replied. “But the cabin may be flooded. If not by this time, it may a little later. The river rises slowly, but for days now it has been almost at bank level.”
“Shouldn’t we go there and see if Mr. Holloway needs help?” Dan suggested. “A lot of Cub stuff is stored in the cabin.”
“Including that Indian headgear Red and I made!” Chips contributed. “I’d sure hate to lose it just before the Pack handicraft show.”
“Speaking of that feather headgear, I owe the Cubs an apology,” Mr. Silverton said. “Several of them, in fact. There’s no time to speak of certain matters now, but later on, you’ll hear from me. In the meantime, thanks for everything you’ve done tonight!”
The Cubs, eager to reach Mr. Holloway’s place, said good-bye and left the sportsman and Dobbs at the creek. Returning to Mr. Hatfield’s parked car, they rode with the Cub leader into Webster City, and on toward the outskirts.
As the highway curved near the river, the Cubs noted with increasing anxiety that large areas of low-lying shore had been nibbled away.
Finally, at the Holloway residence, they piled out of the car to see lighted lanterns moving in the vicinity of the log cabin.
Mr. Hatfield and the Cubs trooped down the slope to find Midge, his father, and Mrs. Holloway, moving bedding, furniture and knickknacks from the cabin.
“Glad you’re here!” Midge’s father greeted the newcomers. “From the look of your clothes, you’ve already had a bout with this flood.”
“A winning one, we’re glad to report!” the Cub leader laughed. “Need help here?”
“We certainly do, although for the moment the situation is fairly well in hand. But I’m worried about the folks on Rabb Island.”
The island of which Mr. Holloway spoke was situated in mid-river only a short distance downstream from the Cub’s cabin. Until recently it had been unoccupied.
“Why, I didn’t know anyone lived there,” Dan said in surprise.
“A family of four moved in about three weeks ago,” Mr. Holloway revealed. “They’re living in a shack there—the mother and father and two youngsters.”
“Rabb Island is low,” the Cub leader said. “And the river has risen several feet in the last few hours.”
“The Dustin family has a boat of sorts,” Mr. Holloway said. “I wouldn’t worry, only I know Mr. Dustin went away late this afternoon just before the storm broke. Whether he got back or not, I don’t know.”
“Then Mrs. Dustin and the two children might be on the island alone?” Mr. Holloway asked.
“That’s what’s worrying me. I don’t know.”
“Any way we can find out?”
“I intend to row over there as soon as I get things cleaned up here. But the water’s risen so fast I haven’t had a chance.”
“I’ll go over right away and check up,” volunteered the Cub leader. “That is, if I can borrow the boat.”
“Midge and I hauled it up by the boat house. The dock is under water now.”
“We’ll help you get it out,” Dan offered eagerly. “Need anyone to go along?”
“I can only take one Cub, because I may need to bring passengers back.”
“Take me,” urged Chips, who had just come out of the flooded cabin after having rescued the Indian feather headdress. “I’m a good rower.”
“Better than I am,” conceded Dan as he saw Mr. Hatfield hesitate.
“Why, yes, Chips, you may go along,” agreed the Cub leader. “Now let’s launch the boat.”
The Cubs carried the craft to the water’s edge. Chips climbed in with Mr. Hatfield who took possession of the oars. The Cubs then gave a mighty shove which sent the boat well on its way.
“That dope!” Red exclaimed belatedly.
“Who is?” demanded Brad who stood near the submerged dock watching the boat disappear into the darkness of the river.
“Chips! Didn’t he take our Indian headdress with him?”
“He did have it in his hand,” declared Dan. “But it should be safe enough.”
“Unless he absently drops it into the river! Or the boat may leak and the feathers get wet. We did a lot of work on that headdress. Only this morning Mr. Holloway told me he thought it might be one of the best items entered in the Pack exhibition.”
“Well, don’t worry about it,” Brad advised. “Chips thinks a lot of that headdress too. Depend upon it, he’ll take care of those precious feathers!”
After the boat had vanished beyond view, the Cubs returned to the cabin to see if anything had been left undone.
Every object which possibly might suffer damage from the rising water, already had been removed to the Holloway home on the hill.
“The cabin itself can’t be injured by water,” Mr. Holloway told the boys. “But it’s likely to be left in a dirty mess.”
“We’ll make a date right now to help you clean the place,” Dan offered. “Everyone show up at the next Cub meeting armed with a mop!”
Because
