With the help of the table, he emptied the cask, into which a good deal of water had got.
Then he took out the stick, corked the bunghole tight, laced the cask up in a piece of net, attached the line to the net, and wound it about the cask by rolling the latter round and round, took the cask between his hands, and pushed from the window straight into the current of the Glashburn.

In a moment it had swept him to the Lorrie.

By the greater rapidity of the former he got easily across the heavier current of the latter, and was presently in water comparatively still, swimming quietly towards the Mains, and enjoying his trip none the less that he had to keep a sharp look-out: if he should have to dive, to avoid any drifting object, he might lose his barrel.

Quickly now, had he been so minded, he could have returned to the city--changing vessel for vessel, as one after another went to pieces.

Many a house-roof offered itself for the voyage; now and then a great water-wheel, horizontal and helpless, devoured of its element.