from where the rain s coming sopping in。 And if so be you can
remember while you do it that this is a judgment that's come upon us；
why； so much the better。 We are evil…doers； all of us； though them
as likes the easy ways generally manage to forget it。〃
The man retreated silently。 The woman sat down upon a stool and
waited。 Gerald sat opposite to her； the battered dressing…case
upon his knees。 Between them was stretched the body of the
unconscious man。
〃Are you used to prayer； young sir？〃 the woman asked。
Gerald shook his head； and the woman did not pursue the subject。
Only once her eyes were half closed and her words drifted across
the room。
〃The Lord have mercy on this man； a sinner！〃
CHAPTER IV
〃My advice to you； sir； is to chuck it！〃
Gerald turned towards the chauffeur by whose side he was seated a
little stiffly； for his limbs were numbed with the cold and
exhaustion。 The morning had broken with a grey and uncertain light。
A vaporous veil of mist seemed to have taken the place of the
darkness。 Even from the top of the hill where the car had come to
a standstill； there was little to be seen。
〃We must have come forty miles already；〃 the chauffeur continued；
〃what with going out of our way all the time because of the broken
bridges。 I'm pretty well frozen through； and as for him；〃 he added；
jerking his thumb across his shoulder； 〃it seems to me you're taking
a bit of a risk。〃
〃The doctor said he would remain in exactly the same condition for
twenty…four hours；〃 Gerald declared。
〃Yes； but he didn't say anything about shaking him up over forty
miles of rough road；〃 the other protested。 〃You'll excuse me； sir；〃
he continued； in a slightly changed tone； 〃it isn't my business； of
course； but I'm fairly done。 It don't seem reasonable to stick at
it like this。 There's Holt village not a mile away； and a comfortable
inn and a fire waiting。 I thought that was as far as you wanted to
come。 We might lie up there for a few hours； at any rate。〃
His passenger slipped down from his place； and； lifting the rug；
peered into the tonneau of the car； over which they had tied a hood。
To all appearance； the condition of the man who lay there was
unchanged。 There was a slightly added blueness about the lps but
his breathing was still perceptible。 It seemed even a little
stronger。 Gerald resumed his seat。
〃It isn't worth while to stay at Holt；〃 he said quietly。 〃We are
scarcely seven miles from home now。 Sit still for a few minutes
and get your wind。〃
〃Only seven miles；〃 the chauffeur repeated more cheerfully。 〃That's
something； anyway。〃
〃And all downhill。〃
〃Towards the sea； then？〃
〃Straight to the sea；〃 Gerald told him。 〃The place we are making
for is St。 David's Hall； near Salthouse。〃
The chauffeur seemed a little startled。
〃'Why； that's Squire Fentolin's house！〃
Gerald nodded。
〃That is where we are going。 You follow this road almost straight
ahead。〃
The chauffeur slipped in the clutch。
〃Oh； I know the way now； sir； right enough！〃 he exclaimed。 〃There's
Salthouse marsh to cross； though。 I don't know about that。〃
〃We shall manage that all right；〃 Gerald declared。 〃'We've more
light now； too。〃
They both looked around。 During the last few minutes the late
morning seemed to have forced its way through the clouds。 They had
a dim； phantasmagoric view of the stricken country： a watery plain；
with here and there great patches of fields； submerged to the
hedges； and houses standing out amidst the waste of waters like
toy dwellings。 There were whole plantations of uprooted trees。
Close to the road； on their left； was a roofless house； and a
family of children crying underneath a tarpaulin shelter。 As they
crept on； the wind came to them with a brackish flavour； salt with
the sea。 The chauffeur was gazing ahead doubtfully。
〃I don't like the look of the marsh；〃 he grumbled。 〃Can't see the
road at all。 However； here goes。〃
〃Another half…hour；〃 Gerald assured him encouragingly； 〃and we shall
be at St。 David's Hall。 You can have as much rest as you like then。〃
They were facing the wind now； and conversation became impossible。
Twice they had to pull up sharp and make a considerable detour； once
on account of a fallen tree which blocked the road； and another
time because of the yawning gap where a bridge had fallen away。
Gerald； however； knew every inch of the country they were in and
was able to give the necessary directions。 They began to meet farm
wagons now； full of people who had been driven from their homes。
Warnings and information as to the state of the roads were shouted
to them continually。 Presently they came to the last steep descent；
and emerged from the devastated fragment of a wood almost on to the
sea level。 The chauffeur clapped on his brakes and stopped short。
〃My God！〃 he exclaimed。 〃Here's more trouble！〃
Gerald for a moment was speechless。 They seemed to have come
suddenly upon a huge plain of waters； an immense lake reaching as
ar as they could see on either side。 The road before them stretched
like a ribbon for the next three miles。 Here and there it
disappeared and reappeared again。 In many places it was lapped by
little waves。 Everywhere the hedges were either altogether or half
under water。 In the distance was one farmhouse； only the roof of
which was visible； and from which the inhabitants were clambering
into a boat。 And beyond； with scarcely a break save for the rising
of one strangely…shaped hill； was the sea。 Gerald pointed with his
finger。
〃 There's St。 David's Hall；〃 he said； 〃on the other side of the
hill。 The road seems all right。〃
〃Does it！〃 the chauffeur grunted。 〃It's under water more than half
the way； and Heaven knows how deep it is at the sides！ I'm not
going to risk my life along there。 I am going to take the car back
to Holt。〃
His hand was already upon the reverse lever； but Gerald gripped it。
〃Look here；〃 he protested； 〃we haven't come all this way to turn back。
You don't look like a coward。〃
〃I am not a coward； sir；〃 was the quiet answer。 〃Neither am I a
fool。 I don't see any use in risking our lives and my master's
motor…car； because you want to get home。〃
〃Naturally；〃 Gerald answered calmly； 〃but remember this。 I am
responsible for your car … not you。 Mr。 Fentolin is my uncle。〃
The chauffeur nodded shortly。
〃You're Mr。 Gerald Fentolin； aren't you； sir？〃 he remarked。 〃I
thought I recognised you。〃
〃I am；〃 Gerald admitted。 〃We've had a rough journey； but it doesn't
seem sense to turn back now； does it； with the house in sight？〃
〃That's all very well； sir；〃 the chauffeur objected doubtfully； 〃but
I don't believe the road's even passable； and the floods seem to me
to be rising。〃
〃Try it；〃 the young man begged。 〃Look here； I don't want to bribe
you； or anything of that sort。 You know you're coming out of this
well。 It's a serious matter for me； and I shan't be likely to forget
it。 I want to take this gentleman to St。 David's Hall and not to
a hospital。 You've brought me here so far like a man。 Let's go
through with it。 If the worst comes to the worst； we can both swim；
I suppose； and we are not likely to get out of our depth。〃
The chauffeur moved his head backwards。
〃How about him？〃
〃He must take his chance；〃 Gerald replied。 〃He's all right where
he is。 The car won't upset and there are plenty of people who'll
see if we get into trouble。 Come； let's make a dash for it。〃
The chauffeur thrust in his clutch and settled himself down。 They
glided off along that winding stretch of road。 To its very edge；
on either side of them； so close that they could almost touch it；
came the water； water which stretched as far as they could see；
swaying； waveless； sinister…looking。 Even Gerald； after his first
impulse of wonder； kept his eyes averted and fixed upon the road
ahead。 Soon they reached a place where the water met in front。
There were only the rows of white palings on either side to guide
them。 The chauffeur muttered to himself as he changed to his first
speed。
〃If the engine gets stopped；〃 he said； 〃I don't know how we shall
get out of this。〃
They emerged on the other side。 For some time they had a clear run。
Then suddenly the driver clapped on his brakes。
〃My God！〃 he cried。 〃We can't get through that！〃
In front of them for more than a hundred yards the water seemed
suddenly to have flowed across the road。 Still a mile distant；
perched on a ridge of that strangely…placed hill； was their
destination。
〃It can't be done； sir！〃 the man groaned。 〃There isn't a car ever
built could get through that。 See； it's nearly up to the top of
those posts。 I must put her in the reverse and get back； even if
we have to wait on the higher part of the road for a boat。〃
He glanced behind； and a second cry broke from his lips。 Gerald
stood up in his place。 Already the road which had been clear a
few minutes before was hidden。 The water was washing almost over
the tops of the white posts behind them。 Little waves were breaking
against the summit of the raised bank。
〃We're cut off！〃 the chauffeur exclaimed。 〃'What a fool I was to
try this！ There's the tide coming in as well！〃
Gerald sat down in his place。
〃Look here；〃 he said； 〃we can't go back； whether we want to or not。
It's much worse behind there than it is in front。 There's only one
chance。 Go for it straight ahead in your first speed。 It may not
stop the engine。 In any case； it will be worse presently。 There's
no use funking it。 If the worst happens； we can sit in the car。
The water won't be above our heads and there are some boats about。
Blow your horn well first； in case there's any one within hearing；
and then go for it。〃
The chauffeur obeyed。 They hissed and spluttered into the water。
Soon all trace of the road was completely lost。 They steered only
by the tops of the white posts。
〃It's getting deeper；〃 the man declared。 〃It's within an inch or
two of the bonnet now。 Hold on。〃
A wave broke almost over them but the engine continued its beat。
〃If we stop now；〃 he gasped； 〃we're done！〃
The engine began to knock。
〃Stick at it；〃