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The children lamented the loss of their brother as well as that of their big pet dog, Rover.

Meanwhile, from the neighboring towns, many people had come in boats, brought the homeless ones provisions and clothing, and offered them shelter in their own homes. This was a great comfort for the unfortunates.

Mr. Swift accepted their hospitality for that night. “To-morrow morning,” said he, “I will try to reach my brother’s home, where I know I can be housed with my family until the spring. Then I will rebuild my home and help my neighbors build theirs. Let us not forget that if we faithfully do our best, God will not forsake us. Perhaps this calamity may in time bring us some blessing.”

CHAPTER II

THE FAITHFUL DOG

Shortly after the Swifts fled, on the night of the flood, the walls of their house had fallen with a thud, and only the strong beams remained standing. By the time the house collapsed, the baby in its cradle had drifted many miles down the river, along the banks of which much damage had been wrought. The cradle passed a village which had been built on an eminence and had consequently escaped.

The villagers who had gathered near the shore saw various household goods floating down the river; there a table, here a chair, yonder a trunk, and in one place even the entire roof of a house.

Two daring boys ventured to stand as near the water’s edge as possible, in order to see things a little better. All of a sudden one of the boys cried: “Oh, see, there is a cradle afloat in mid-stream!” The other boy, whose sight was keener, shouted: “See, a dog is swimming after it and is trying to push it toward the shore!”

Several strong men standing near-by had long hooked poles, and were busily engaged dragging things out of the river. One of them, a young fisherman, saw the cradle and cried: “A baby must be in that cradle, because the dog would not bother about an empty cradle. Up, brothers, up, let us try to save the child. Let not the fidelity and bravery of a dog put us to shame.”

Notwithstanding the threatening danger of being crushed to death by the rushing ice-floes, the men launched a boat and jumped into it. They reached the cradle and discovered the child in it. They placed cradle and babe in their boat and brought them safely to land.

The people rushed forward and crowded around the cradle to look at the infant. Among the spectators were a gentleman and his wife, named Trent.

“Oh, what a beautiful child,” cried Mrs. Trent, as she bent over the baby. “See how peacefully it sleeps, not knowing through what dangers it has passed, not dreaming it has been saved.”

Mrs. Trent had lately lost a dear little baby, so she approached her husband and said: “Do see how this babe resembles our lost Isabel; and it seems to be of the same age. Let me take this child, and if its parents cannot be found, I will be a mother to it.”

Mr. Trent smiled pleasantly, nodded his head and said: “Well, well, take it. Let us not be less sympathetic than these three men, and that pitying dog.”

By this time the poor dog had reached the shore, and stood shaking the water from his coat; so that the bystanders had to rush aside to escape a good wetting. Then he began to bark with joy and wag his tail, springing first at this one, then at that one, as if to express his thanks for the baby’s rescue.

Mr. Trent noticed this, and said: “See how thankful this dog is, and human beings should never be less thankful.” He took some gold coins out of his pocket, and handed two to each of the three fishermen. They hesitated, not wishing to take the money. “What we have done was purely out of love for humanity and without any thought of reward,” said they.