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Updated: May 7, 2025
One of the most conspicuous objects of the scene, from Ravenshaw's point of view, was poor Winklemann's house a small one which stood on a low spot already surrounded by water. In front of it was Winklemann himself, wading through the flood, without coat or hat, and carrying a large bundle in his arms. "What have you got there?" asked Ravenshaw, as German went staggering past.
This hut was by that time so nearly touched by the water that all the people who had formerly crowded round it had forsaken it and made for the so-called mountain. Only Liz herself remained, and Herr Winklemann, to take care of their respective parents. "Do you think it safe to stay?" asked the clergyman, as he was about to leave. "Safe, ya; qvite safe.
Thus that household spent the night, rocked, as it were, on the cradle of the deep. At daylight Herr Winklemann rose from his sleepless couch at the parsonage, and finding that the wind had moderated, launched his canoe. He left the mission station just an hour before Mr Cockran returned to it.
Daddy, hearing nothing, and believing from the pleasant expression of Liz's countenance that she appreciated his remarks, nodded to Mrs Winklemann cheerily, and smiled. "Ha!" laughed her son; "you is von stranch being, old Liz ver stranch." Having finished the filling of his "moder's" pipe and lighted it for her, Herr Winklemann arose and followed his friend Michel out of the hut.
It'll be mair comfortabler, an'll keep ye oot o' the wat." Daddy submitted with a good grace, and felt more easy than usual, the table being very little higher than his chair. Mrs Winklemann was equally submissive and pleased. Covering the two pairs of legs with a blanket, old Liz produced some bread and cheese, and served out rations thereof to keep their minds engaged.
Winklemann at once went down on all-fours, and arranged the large wolf-skin so that the legs hung down over his own legs and arms, while the head was pulled over his eyes like a hood. Thus disguised, he crept into the midst of the unsuspicious band. The buffalo is not afraid of wolves. He treats them with contempt.
"You've got everything out, I fancy?" asked Lambert. "Everyt'ing," replied Winklemann, with a deep sigh; "not'ing is left but zee hause." "An' that won't be left long," observed Mr Ravenshaw, as a huge mass of ice went against its gable-end like a battering-ram. It seemed to be the leader of a fresh battalion of the destroyer.
Returning to the station, Winklemann engaged two additional men to aid him, but the increasing gale neutralised the extra force. After a vain struggle the canoe was hurled back on the knoll, a wave caught the bow, overturned it, and threw the men into the water at the very door of the parsonage. The canoe was partially broken. Time was required to repair it.
Next moment a man rushed from a clump of trees brandishing a gun. He stopped when within fifty yards, uttered another demoniacal yell, and took aim at Warder. Quick as thought the ex-captain brought his own piece to his shoulder. He would have been too late if the gun of his opponent had not missed fire. "Stop! 'tis Pierre Vincent!" cried Winklemann, just in time to arrest Warder's hand.
With some impatience he waited until the ladies inside the house were able to answer his queries about his mother. No sooner did he obtain all the information they possessed than he transferred Meekeye to her husband's canoe, and set off alone in the other to search for the lost hut as Winklemann had done before him.
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