nil equals it. For myself, I will candidly
admit that I was appalled; and my efforts to
smile were such miserable and transparent
failures that I abandoned the attempt, and
could only reply to my wife's whispered fears
by silently pressing her to my breast.

The storm, as is usual in Australia,
travelled in a circle, passing from west to north,
thence east, and so round again. Sometimes
it would nearly die away in the distance;
then suddenly the dark clouds would wheel
up again with wondrous rapidity, and over-
spread the vault of heaven. Again the angry
glare of the lightning would usher in such
tremendous thunder-shocks that the very
earth seemed to quiver with the concussion.
Meantime the rain poured down incessantly,
in one unbroken discharge. The elemental
din was deafening. The howling of the wind,
the rattling of the rainfall on the shingle-
roof of the cottage, and the roaring of thunder,
all combined, were so entirely overpowering
that the human voice at its utmost pitch,
failed to be heard at a distance of twelve or
fourteen feet.

In the midst of this uproar a more than
usually heavy thunder-clap was followed by a
sudden and profound calm. The rain ceased
to fall, the wind to blow. Stepping out into the
verandah I perceived that the clouds hung
motionless, whilst in the south-eastern horizon
was a clear space wherein twinkled a
few silvery stars. The storm-rack was heaped
up in portentous masses; and I fully anticipated
a more violent outbreak of the tempest,
thus arrested, as it were, in mid-career; but
presently the dark clouds moved back on
the track they had so long pursued, and
with gradually accelerated motion drifted
northward. A few pale flashes, feebly
gleaming from the gloomy canopy, enabled
me to perceive that some strong force, as yet
unfelt on the earth, caused the clouds to
pursue this retrograde course. The
surcharged masses seemed to tumble over each
other in their flight, and the bright stars
were one by one unveiled. At this moment
the scene was sublime.

Presently a soft breeze from the south
stirred my hair. It increased, and soon blew
hard—so hard, indeed, that I was glad to
return to my own fireside, and snugly seated
in my easy-chair, to listen to its fury.

By degrees I distinguished another sound,
so alike and incorporated with that of the
rushing wind, that, only half convinced, I once
more issued into the open air. It was the
roaring of the Murrumbidgee River, and of
numerous extemporised feeders, for the
suddenness and force of the storm had
temporarily converted every gully into a torrent.
By the light of the stars I could perceive
that the stream had overflowed its banks;
but this circumstance created little surprise,
inasmuch as slight floods were of frequent
occurrence in and around Gundagai during
the winter months. I therefore felt no alarm,
but listened to the turbulent song of the
foaming current with positive pleasure.
Shortly afterwards we retired to rest.

I fell into a deep slumber—a perfect
oblivion of the senses. By a sudden
transition, the terrors of the day were
repeated in my dream, and with increased
effect. First I dreamed of the deluge.
I was climbing a perpendicular rock, and
ever as I climbed the waters rose equally, so
that it always covered my shoulders.
Presently my muscles relaxed, my nerves failed,
I lost my hold, and fell—fell—down unmeasured
depths. Then, without warning I was
in the midst of a battle-field, amidst the
rattle of fire-arms, the dull, heavy sound of
distant artillery, the shouts of armed men,
the shrieks of the wounded!

At length my wife aroused me. The
sounds of my dream still rang in my ears, and
it was some time before I could comprehend
matters.

When I became thoroughly conscious, I
was alarmed at the extent of our danger.
The storm was raging more wildly than
ever, and the rush and roar of mighty waters
was added to its other sounds. Hoarse shouts,
too, mingled with the din; and cries of
distress were borne to our ears. I became
aware, too, of a violent knocking at the door,
and a voice exclaiming: " Master, master, get
up! Be quick, for any sake! The waters
are out!"

I did not fully understand this warning,
till, leaping out of bed, I hastily opened the
door, when the whole truth burst upon me.

Far and wide over the township one vast
sheet of water gleamed in the red glare of
the lightning. Many of the houses in the
more immediate vicinity of the river were
entirely submerged, and the inhabitants were
flying for dear life—bare-headed some—
others almost destitute of any clothing.
Aroused too late to linger one instant lest
destruction should overtake them, were men,
women, and children of tender age, all heaped
together in the storm. At the rear of the township
a little rising ground afforded comparative
security, and thither all were hurrying.

Our cottage, as I have said, was built on
piles, and the flower garden was arranged
in the form of a mound, gradually descending
to a level with the roadway. The waters
already surrounded the house, and reached
the level of the verandah; but there was yet
time to escape, my friendly monitor averred.
How brief that time was I might have guessed
by the speed wherewith—his warning task
performed—he sprang away in the direction
which all were now pursuing. But it was
my first experience of an Australian flood.

My household consisted of Esther, two
children, and a domestic named Martha.
With the latter slept our little Rose, whilst
the baby occupied a cot in our own room.
Thus much is necessai'y to enable the reader
to understand what follows.