It was some time before Doctor Barnes pulled himself together and began to try to get his men in hand.

He ordered them to the lower end of the street, to drive the people out of their houses without an instant's delay; for none might say at what time the break in the dam would increase, in which case it soon would be too late for any hope.

He himself hastened at last to the house where the two women were, Wid Gardner with him, after he had issued general orders for all the men to get up the trail above the dam as soon as possible.
"Come out!" he cried as he opened the door.

Mary Gage and Annie came arm in arm, both of them hysterical now.
"It's all gone," said Doctor Barnes, not even bitterly, but calmly after all.

"It's out.