The Flood | Page 8

it returned against our roof so
violently that we were afraid of seeing it smashed into splinters.
Gaspard jumped upon it boldly. He went over it carefully, to assure
himself of its solidity. He laughed, saying joyously:
"Grandfather, we are saved! Don't cry any more, you women. A real
boat! Look, my feet are dry. And it will easily carry all of us!"
Still, he thought it well to make it more solid. He caught some floating
beams and bound them to it with a rope that Pierre had brought up for
an emergency. Gaspard even fell into the water, but at our screams he
laughed. He knew the water well; he could swim three miles in the
Garonne at a stretch. Getting up again, he shook himself, crying:
"Come, get on it! Don't lose any time!"

The women were on their knees. Gaspard had to carry Veronique and
Marie to the middle of the raft, where he made them sit down.
Rose and Aunt Agathe slid down the tiles and placed themselves beside
the young girls. At this moment I looked toward the church. Aimee was
still in the same place. She was leaning now against a chimney, holding
her children up at arm's length, for the water was to her waist.
"Don't grieve, grandfather," said Gaspard. "We will take her off on the
way."
Pierre and Jacques were already on the raft, so I jumped on. Gaspard
was the last one aboard. He gave us poles that he had prepared and that
were to serve us as oars. He had a very long one that he used with great
skill. We let him do all the commanding. At an order from him, we
braced our poles against the tiles to put out into the stream. But it
seemed as if the raft was attached to the roof. In spite of all our efforts,
we could not budge it. At each new effort the current swung us
violently against the house. And it was a dangerous manoeuvre, for the
shock threatened to break up the planks composing the raft.
So once again we were made to feel our helplessness. We had thought
ourselves saved, and we were still at the mercy of the river. I even
regretted that the women were not on the roof; for, every minute, I
expected to see them precipitated into the boiling torrent. But when I
suggested regaining our refuge they all cried:
"No, no! Let us try again! Better die here!"
Gaspard no longer laughed. We renewed our efforts, bending to our
poles with redoubled energy. Pierre then had the idea to climb up on
the roof and draw us, by means of a rope, towards the left. He was thus
able to draw us out of the current. Then, when he again jumped upon
the raft, a few thrusts of our poles sent us out into the open. But
Gaspard recalled the promise he had made me to stop for our poor
Aimee, whose plaintive moans had never ceased. For that purpose it
was necessary to cross the street, where the terrible current existed. He
consulted me by a glance. I was completely upset. Never had such a
combat raged within me. We would have to expose eight lives. And yet
I had not the strength to resist the mournful appeal.
"Yes, yes," I said to Gaspard. "We can not possibly go away without
her!"
He lowered his head without a word, and began using his pole against

all the walls left standing. We passed the neighboring house, but as
soon as we emerged into the street a cry escaped us. The current, which
had again seized us, carried us back against our house. We were
whirled round like a leaf, so rapidly that our cry was cut short by the
smashing of the raft against the tiles. There was a rending sound, the
planks were loosened and wrenched apart, and we were all thrown into
the water. I do not know what happened then. I remember that when I
sank I saw Aunt Agathe floating, sustained by her skirts, until she went
down backward, head first, without a struggle.
A sharp pain brought me to. Pierre was dragging me by the hair along
the tiles. I lay still, stupidly watching. Pierre had plunged in again. And,
in my confused state, I was surprised to see Gaspard at the spot where
my brother had disappeared. The young man had Veronique in his arms.
When he had placed her near me he again jumped in, bringing up Marie,
her face so waxy white that I thought her dead. Then he plunged again.
But this time he searched in vain. Pierre had joined him. They talked
and gave each other indications that I could not hear.