The creek was swollen to a torrent.

The waters dashed against its sides, in their haste to go their way.

The wind, too, howled mournfully, and the old trees bent to and fro, nodding their stately heads, and rustling their branches against each other.
"Oh, Mr.William, is it you ?" said the woman, opening the door.

"Get off your horse, and come in and rest; you can't go home to-night." "Yes, I can though," said William, "I have often forded the creek, and though I never saw it as it is now, yet I can get safely over it, I am sure." "Don't talk of such things, for the Lord's sake," said Mrs.Jones.

"Why, my husband could not ford the creek now, and you're a mere boy." "No matter for that," said William.