Raymond S. Spears

“ Owls hooted at intervals; wild geese, flying overhead on their way north, showered the flood with the music of their hoarse voices; a wild turkey called from a tree at some distance from the house-boat; a tree swaying on loose roots in the current that flowed out of the foot of Reelfoot Lake through the Shakes, as this part of the bottoms was called, sawed a branch against another tree with a screaming, fiddling sound; a low undertone, part noise, part shuddering of the wilderness in the current of the inundation, filled the night with sensation which was thrilling to the brave youth. ”

“ Sibley, standing on the cabin roof, watched the current ahead. The three in the motor boats listened keenly for his quick orders, and obeyed on the instant. Drifting astern in a skiff, with a big coil of inch-line in it, one end of which was fast to a timber-head on the stern deck, were the sheriff and another man, ready to rush to a tree and make fast, if need be to snub up the house-boat and keep it from crashing into the trees down the steady, powerful current. ”

“ Sibley hesitated, but only for a minute. He had helped to navigate a raft down a narrow creek, and he had managed a small shanty-boat many times. He had often assumed responsibility when the need demanded. He had never been in command of men before, but working with the boys, and, especially driving into the crevasse flood, he had learned self-confidence.
"All right, Sheriff, if you say so!" he said, with the skin tightening around his lips. "Let go the stern-line, please! Start the motors!" ”