After a while the first rush of waters passed, and they settled into a
strong smooth flow like that of the great river from which they came.
The uneasy movements of the raft ceased, and its shivering occupants
again began to breath freely.
"I guess it is all right, boys!" called out Billy Brackett. "I believe
we are stranded at the foot of the bagasse-burner; but the old craft
has evidently made up its mind to hold together for a while longer, at
any rate. So I move that we crawl into the 'shanty' again. It's a
good deal warmer and more comfortable in there than it is out here."
So, very cautiously, to prevent themselves from slipping off the
steeply-sloping deck, our raftmates worked their way back into the
little house that had for so long been their home. They found the
lower side of the floor about two feet under water.
All hands were greatly depressed by the calamity that had overtaken
them. Mr. Manton, Worth, Sumner, and old Solon grieved over the ruin
of Moss Bank. Glen and Binney feared for the safety of General
Elting's valuable instruments. Billy Brackett wondered if Major
Caspar, or any one else, would ever again have confidence in him as the
leader of an expedition, while Winn, who had never ceased to reproach
himself for the manner in which the voyage of the _Venture_ had been
begun, was now filled with dismay at its disastrous termination.
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