d。 But the
water flowed strongly into the house。
〃It's getting higher；〃 said Tilly。 〃Hasn't master e
in？〃
Mrs。 Brangwen did not hear。
〃Isn't he the……ere？〃 she called； in her far…reaching；
terrifying voice。
〃No；〃 came the short answer out of the night。
〃Go and loo……ok for him。〃
His mother's voice nearly drove the youth mad。
He put the halter on the horse and shut the stable door。 He
came splashing back through the water； the lantern swinging。
The unconscious； drowning body was pushed past the house in
the deepest current。 Fred Brangwen came to his mother。
〃I'll go to th' cart…shed；〃 he said。
〃To……om； To……o……om！〃 rang out the strong；
inhuman cry。 Fred Brangwen's blood froze； his heart was very
angry。 He gripped his veins in a frenzy。 Why was she yelling
like this？ He could not bear the sight of her； perched on a
chair in her white nightdress in the doorway； elvish and
horrible。
〃He's taken the mare out of the trap； so he's all right；〃 he
said； growling； pretending to be normal。
But as he descended to the cart…shed； he sank into a foot of
water。 He heard the rushing in the distance； he knew the canal
had broken down。 The water was running deeper。
The trap was there all right； but no signs of his father。 The
young man waded down to the pond。 The water rose above his
knees； it swirled and