The town was now a scene of wild confusion. The people were nearly out of their senses with fear, for they were alarmed lest the waters reach even the high places. Cooler heads did their best to quiet the excited ones, but it was hard work.  
Boats were plying everywhere, taking people from the second stories of their houses in some cases, and saving some from possible death by drowning. The waters, which were now turned into a raging torrent, were filled with débris brought down from up country.
 
Sometimes whole houses or barns would be borne along, and when they struck a building in Stoneville there was a crash that could be heard for some distance and the stationary residence would be knocked from its foundation and carried away.
 
The houses of those whom the flood had not reached were thrown open to the unfortunates. The hotel took in all it could hold, but the proprietor was obliged to put everyone on short rations, for food was getting scarce, and the railroad282 was under water, so no more could be brought in that way.
 
There was plenty of material for newspaper copy now. The reporters, Mr. Newton included, went out on a tour of investigation, making notes of what they saw. The men who worked on morning papers were in a quandary how to get their news off until someone said there was a telegraph office in the next town, about five miles away over the hills.
 
Several of them clubbed together, hired a horse and carriage, and drove over with their copy.
 
“I wonder if I’ll have to do that in the morning,” Mr. Newton said to Larry.
 
“I think I have a better plan,” said the boy.
 
“What is it?”
 
Then Larry told of how the Stoneville operator was going to open a temporary office on the hill in a tent.
 
“If he does that, in time for us, it will be just the thing,” said Mr. Newton. “Keep quiet concerning it. Don’t say anything about it to the other fellows.”
 
“Why not?”
 
“Because we don’t want them to know it. If they find it out they’ll go there and file stuff, and ours may be delayed. You must learn, in the newspaper business, to know everything and tell nothing, especially to the fellow on the other paper.”
 
283 “I’ll go over the first thing in the morning and find out if he’s opened his place,” said Larry.
 
That night was one of terror. Fortunately there was enough warning about the bursting of the dam so that most of the people were out of the way in time, and none was killed. But the property loss was tremendous. About midnight the waters ceased to rise, but they still inundated most of the town, and would for some time, since the country for quite a distance above was covered with the flood.
 
Early the next morning Larry got up, dressed, and went downstairs. He was surprised to find the corridor of the hotel partly filled with water.
 
“What’s the matter?” he asked the clerk.
 
“Oh, they tried to drown us out last night,” was the reply.
 
“Has the flood reached here?” asked the boy.
 
“Take a look out front and you’ll think so,” the man went on.
 
Larry looked from the windows. He saw that the street was inundated, the water being about four feet deep.
 
“How am I going to get out?” he asked in dismay.
 
“Swim,” said the clerk with a laugh, in spite of the gravity of the situation. “It’s not very cold. Or you might wait for the flood to go down.”
 
“I haven’t time for that,” said Larry, “and I284 don’t believe I could swim as far as I intend to go.”
 
“There are some fellows outside with boats, and they may take you where you want to go,” the clerk said.
 
“That’s a good idea,” said the boy. “I’ll try it.”
 
He went out on the front steps, through the corridor, which contained about an inch of water. As he reached the front door a rowboat, propelled by a big man, shot up.
 
“Boat?” asked the man, in the manner of one inquiring whether one would have a cab. “Take you anywhere for half a dollar.”
 
Larry mentioned where he wanted to be landed, and got in the boat. The oarsman said he would take him as near the place on the hill as he could go.
 
“You’ll have to walk the rest of the way,” the improvised ferryman said.
 
“I’m willing,” replied the boy.
 
He found that the operator had set up a small tent, and was busy over his instruments, which he had attached to the telegraph line that passed over the brow of the hill.
 
“How soon can you take messages?” asked Larry.
 
“Oh, it’s you, eh?” asked the operator. “You were my last customer in the old place, and you’re the first one in the new.”
 
285 “Will you soon be ready?” asked Larry.
 
“In about an hour,” was the reply.
 
The man busied himself over his instruments, connecting them to batteries he had procured and then adjusting them. Next he climbed a telegraph pole and “cut in” as it is called on the main line, fastening the wire from his machines to the regular line.............