Before awaking his companions, all of whom seemed to be sleeping
heavily, Sam went out to see if the flood in the canyon had risen.
He ventured but a few yards beyond the entrance to the cave, for the
sight that met his eyes appalled him.
The rain was still pouring down in torrents, and the flood had risen
till it was nearly on a level with the plateau.
"Three feet more and it will be into the cave," he said, speaking aloud.
"Watel littee mole high up no cannee stay, mus' allee die if no can
swimmee," said a voice behind Sam.
There was no need to ask whose it was.
Wah Shin, with thoughts of breakfast in his mind, had got up, but first
he decided to satisfy himself of the condition of affairs outside.
"Yes, Wah Shin," said Sam, without turning his head, "even as I look at
the flood it appears to be rising."
"If it come mole up, wat we allee do?"
"I don't know."
"No cannee stop dis place?"
"I fear not."
"Way we go den, no can tink."
"Nor can I think either, Wah."
"If no can lib, den no coz wy die hungly," said Wah Shin, and with this
belief strong in his mind, he re-entered the cave and set about getting
breakfast with his usual indifference to the state of the weather.
At any other time the sight of the flood and the danger of its coming
higher would have alarmed Sam greatly, but though he could not ignore
the danger that threatened him now, his own situation was lost sight of
as he thought of his father's position.
He was still standing looking at the rushing flood, as if fascinated by
its power and volume, when Ike and Ulna came out and joined him.
"Foh massy's sake!" exclaimed Ike, when he caught sight of the water.
"Ain't she jest a bilein' up."
"Do you think the water will rise higher?" asked Sam as he turned to
Ulna, and tried to find some comfort in his calm, impassive face.
Before replying Ulna looked up at the sky for some seconds, then said:
"The storm is not half over."
"And while it lasts the water will go on rising?"
"Yes, Sam, that is what we must expect."
"Then it will flood the cave?"
"It will surely do that."
"And drive us out?"
"Yes, Sam, if we don't want to drown there."
"Then we must try to leave?"
"Yes, we must try to leave," echoed Ulna.
"But how can we get away?"
"Ah," said Ulna, with something like a sigh, "I cannot now think of how
that's to be done."
"If so be we was all birds, we could fly," said Ike, very solemnly,
"it'd come in mighty handy-like jest 'bout dis time."
Sam now realized that he must think and act for his companions as well
as for himself.
His was a brave, sturdy, self-reliant nature, that grows stronger and
stronger in the face of increasing trials and responsibilities.
"Let us go in out of the rain and think," he said, while he turned and
nervously stroked his forehead.
When they went back to the cave they found that Wah Shin had a good
breakfast ready, and was still busy cooking more food.
When asked by Sam why he was doing this, he said, as if it were a matter
of course.
"Bime by, watel him come in, puttee out file; file him go out, no can
cookee; no got tings cookee, no can eat; no eatee den allee mus' die."
"Well, Wah Shin," said Sam with a grim smile, "if there is any hope in
cooking, keep at it while the food lasts."
Despite their troubles and the dangers that cut them off from the world
and threatened their lives, all, Maj included, complimented Wah Shin's
efforts in their behalf by partaking of a hearty breakfast.
During the meal Sam was unusually silent; it was evident he was thinking
very hard, and the others did not attempt to disturb his deliberations
till he had risen from his seat, then Ulna asked:
"Have you thought out a way to get across the canyon, Sam?"
"I have thought out a way of trying it," he answered.
"How?"
"On a raft."
"But we have no raft."
"Then we must make one."
"Where is the timber?"
"There is some here in the form of slabs and firewood, and there is
plenty whirling down with the flood. You can handle a lariat, Ulna?"
"I think I can," was the response.
"Then get a rope, we have a lot here in the cave; make a noose and
secure all the long pieces of timber you can. The water is nearly up to
the plateau, and Ike will help you pull them out."
"An' watee can me do?" asked Wah Shin.
"Keep right on cooking, for if we cannot cross the flood on the raft,
we'll be swept into the great canyon of the Colorado, and there we shall
need all the food we can take along."
The others set to work with a will, but even Ulna, who was born out in
that land, only faintly comprehended the import of what Sam said about
the great canyon.
Indeed, Sam himself had only a vague notion of what was meant by the now
famous geographical name.
He knew the history and geography of his own country very well, as every
well-trained youth should, and he was, therefore, aware that the great
Colorado of the West was formed by the junction of two important rivers,
the Green and the Grand; he was further aware that the water roaring
outside entered the latter river about twenty-five miles below the camp.
Had these been ordinary rivers there would be good reason to dread
venturing out on their currents at flood time, even in a good boat; but
the Green and the Grand for many score miles above their junction flowed
through immense rocky defiles or canyons, and they united in one mighty
canyon, through which flowed for fully four hundred miles the waters of
the Colorado on their way to the Gulf of California.
Sam had talked a great deal about this wonderful chasm with Hank Tims,
and that most reliable authority had assured him that only two parties
had ever attempted to go through the great canyon and returned to tell of
their perilous adventures and hair-breadth escapes.
Hank claimed to have stood on a cliff that rose straight up from the
edge of the Colorado at one point, and looked down a sheer perpendicular
depth of over seven thousand feet, the very thought of which is enough
to make an ordinary head giddy.
But Sam helped to make a craft that would enable them to cross the two
hundred feet that separated them from the opposite bank, and this
accomplished in safety, they could make their way on foot to Hurley's
Gulch, where he knew his father was eagerly awaiting his coming.
He secured all the gold dust about his own person, and then made up
bundles of blankets, provisions and ammunition that might be of use if
they did not succeed in making a crossing.
This done, he went out and found that Ike and Ulna had succeeded in
staying and landing a great deal of drift-wood, just the thing for a
raft, and a number of stout poles that might be used in guiding it.
By this time the flood had risen still higher and higher, and was now
ankle deep on the plateau outside the cave opening, and there was not a
moment to lose.
With an energy that was all his own, and a skill that surprised himself,
Sam set about building the raft.
By means of ropes, the longer timbers were securely lashed side by side,
and over these, like a deck, the lighter slabs taken from the cave were
nailed.
When this clumsy and insecure structure was completed, Sam saw that the
food, blankets, arms and ammunition were tied so that they could not be
swept off by the wash of the waters.
It comforted him somewhat to know that all his companions could swim,
though the stoutest swimmer could not last long in the mad torrent
sweeping past.
Sam assigned each one a position, and gave him strict instructions as to
what he must do under certain circumstances; and Maj seemingly well
aware of what was up, crouched down in the center of the raft.
"Now," said Sam, as he stood up, pole in hand, at one end of the raft,
"we must wait for the current to float us off, and trust in God."