The Island House Part 9

"Hadn't we better hurry on?" asked Alfy. "He may break the door down and overturn the things."

"I don't think he will," said the policeman, shaking his head.

"Howsomdever, we will go." And taking a long drink of cold tea, he put some bread and cheese in his pocket, and exclaimed, "Now I'm ready."

The two sallied forth, and before very long they had reached the house.

As the policeman had antic.i.p.ated, the man had not beaten the door down, and when it was opened he walked almost literally into the policeman's arms, as Mansy had said.

"I'll go quiet," said the man, who in fact looked tired and hungry.

"You needn't put on them things," glancing at the shining steel handcuffs. "I s'pose, missus," he said, looking at Mansy, "you couldn't give a half-starved creetur a crust o' bread, could ye? I'm dead beat!"

"Well! did you ever!" exclaimed Mansy. "After breaking into one's house, then axin' for bread! The imperence!"

"Now then, come on!" said the policeman; "you'll have some food at the lock-up. Get into that boat, smart!"

Airy had looked closely at the man. Yes, it was the same who had tied him in the boat yesterday. Should he give him something to eat? The boy hesitated. The man looked very worn and weary. Then the lad thought of the words,--"If thine enemy hunger, feed him." He hesitated no longer. He slipped into the dining-room, took a large slice of bread, and pressed it into the man's hand just as the policeman hustled him off. Then he hurried away, scarcely hearing the man's thanks, though seeing his look of surprise.

That day was a busy one for the inhabitants of the Island House. Mansy was very anxious that as far as possible every sign of the damage done by the water should be repaired and cleared away. So she kept the young people well employed. But the Island House, however, was rapidly becoming an Island House no longer, for the flood continued to subside on every hand.

When the man was examined before the magistrates, of course Alfy had to be present to testify what he knew about the matter, and the causes of the flood were thoroughly investigated. To do him justice, the man himself did not attempt to conceal anything. His fault was chiefly that of gross carelessness and neglect of duty. The wall of the reservoir had showed signs of weakness which he had failed to report to his superior officers. In fact, he had seen but little of those signs, for, instead of keeping to his work, he had wasted his time in drinking; and on the afternoon when the wall burst he was loitering in a public-house some distance off. He hid in the Island House for the night, not knowing anyone was still there.

The heavy rains of an exceptionally wet July had increased the volume of water in the reservoir to a great extent, and placed a much greater strain on the weakened wall. Hence it came to pa.s.s that when the increased pressure came, the wall not being repaired and strengthened, gave way with a crash. As the man had entered the Island House, he was committed for trial at the next a.s.sizes, and Alfy was complimented on his bravery and cleverness.

Next morning, when the children came down, they were quite astonished to find that the water had all disappeared, and the garden and grounds looked very strange and muddy after their long and unusual bath.

"Why! where has the flood gone to?" exclaimed Edie. "It has quite vanished away in the night."

"It was subsiding quickly yesterday," said Alfy.

"Now that we have done up the damage in the house, we must see what we can do for the garden," urged Mansy. "Why here is the postman coming up the path, just as if nothing had happened!"

"A letter from Auntie Rose!" cried Edie, taking the packet from the postman. "Perhaps she asks us all to the seaside."

That was exactly what Auntie Rose did ask, as they found when they read the letter. She was staying with their cousins in Devonshire, and thought they might come at once, as she knew of suitable apartments for them. Their parents, too, who were on the Continent, might perhaps join them there soon.

"Oh, that will be jolly!" cried the children.

"And when we come back," said Alfy, "I expect all signs of the flood will have gone. It has not been a bad time, though, has it, Mansy?"

"Perhaps not so very bad, Master Alfy," said Mansy, laughing; "only I could not abear that rockety tub. Now let us tidy the garden."

THE END.

_BOOKS IN THE SAME SERIES_

"ROAST POTATOES!"

ONLY A GIRL!

d.i.c.k AND HIS DONKEY RED DAVE THE LITTLE WOODMAN A LITTLE TOWN MOUSE THE ISLAND HOUSE THE CHILDREN OF THE MARSHES A DOUBLE VICTORY LEFT IN CHARGE A SUNDAY TRIP "IN A MINUTE!"

FARTHING DIPS TIMFY SYKES

LONDON

S. W. PARTRIDGE & CO, LTD.

MADE IN GREAT BRITAIN.