Allwasrunningwater。Notahumanbeingwasvisible，andbutafewhouse-roofs，ofwhichforamomentitwashardtosaywhetherornottheywereofthosethatwereafloat。Hereandtherewerethetopsoftrees，showinglikelowbushes。Nothingwasupliftedexceptthemountains。HedrewneartheMains。Allthericksintheyardwerebobbingabout，asifamusingthemselveswithaslowcontradance;buttheywereasyetkeptinbythebarn，andahugeoldhedgeofhawthorn。Whatwasthatcryfromfaraway？，Surelyitwasthatofahorseindanger！，Itbroughtalustyequineresponsefromthefarm。Wherecouldhorsesbewithsuchadepthofwaterabouttheplace？，Thenbeganagreatlowingofcattle。Butagaincamethecryofthehorsefromafar，andGibbie，thistimerecognizingthevoiceasSnowball’s，forgottherest。Hestoodupontheverytopoftherickandsenthiskeenglanceroundonallsides。Thecrycameagainandagain，sothathewassatisfiedinwhatdirectionhemustlook。Therainhadabatedalittle，buttheairwassothickwithvapourthathecouldnottellwhetheritwasreallyanobjectheseemedtoseewhiteagainstthebrownwater，farawaytotheleft，orafancyofhisexcitedhope：itmightbeSnowballontheturn-pikeroad，whichthereaboutranalongthetopofahighembankment。Hetumbledfromtherick，rolledthelineaboutthebarrel，andpushedvigorouslyforwhatmightbethehorse。
Ittookhimawearyhour——insomanycurrentswashecaught，oneaftertheother，allstrainingtocarryhimfarbelowtheobjecthewantedtoreach：anobjectitplainlywasbeforehehadgothalf-wayacross，andbyandbyasplainlyitwasSnowball——testifiedtoearsandeyestogether。Whenatlengthhescrambledontheembankmentbesidehim，thepoor，shivering，perishingcreaturegavealowneighofdelight：hedidnotknowGibbie，buthewasahumanbeing。Hewasquitecowedandsubmissive，andGibbieatoncesetabouthisrescue。Hehadreasonedashecamealongthat，iftherewerebeastsattheMains，theremustberoomforSnowball，andthitherhewouldendeavourtotakehim。Hetiedtheendofthelinetotheremnantofthehalteronhishead，theotherendbeingstillfasttothebarrel，andtooktothewateragain。Encouragedbythepoweruponhishead，thepressure，namely，ofthehalter，thehorsefollowed，andtheymadefortheMains。Itwasalongjourney，andGibbiehadnotbreathenoughtosingtoSnowball，buthemadewhatnoisehecould，andtheygotslowlyalong。Hefoundthedifficultiesfargreaternowthathehadtolookoutforthehorseaswellasforhimself。Nonebutonemuchusedtothewatercouldhavesucceededintheattempt，orcouldindeedhavestoodoutagainstitsweakeninginfluenceandthestrainofthecontinuedexertiontogethersolong。
Atlengthhisbarrelgotwater-logged，andhesentitadrift。
CHAPTERXXXVI。
THEBRANDER。