TWO IN A TUB

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 177, 29 July 1939, Page 3 (Supplement)

TWO IN A TUB

Duncan Hay and hissister Moira had a wild i(ii<l unusual scene mi which to gaze. down, for during the past two days great Hoods had risen ;in<l now the village was iii\ ;i • ]<-<] l,v swirling waters. So ( 1(.,.|, were they, in fact, that th" ground Moors of tlio houses, were under nearly tour feet of water and everybody had to live upstairs. Food was brought round by men in boats; under each window the men halted to place supplies in baskets whioh the householder)* let down to them. If anyone wished to leave his house he had to lower himself from the window into a boat. tint the. children's home stood on a narrow plateau above the level of the village, so the floods had not reached the house, though the lower part of the garden was under water. "It would be our luck to miss the fun/' wailed Moira. But Duncan hail an idea. "The rainwater tub would do splendidly as a boat." he exclaimed. "There'll be just room for us both in it. 1 think. We can puddle it about in the garden and have a hit of fun.'' So the old ■rrceu tub was hauled out of its den. "It's a good job that mummy and daddy are out helping in the bo.it*. and can't see us start."' remarked Moira, "they might have objected." Somehow liiey just managed to sijuee/.e in the tub and set it afloat. Objections might have been justified had the parents been watching the tub and it* occupants for the first few minuter;, as they shot and spun. rocked and twisted. lint after a short time Duncan, wielding a pole, got the craft under control. Indeed, such was his success that presently lie began to tire of the garden's limited space. •Moira gave a squeal art they shot out of the open pate and began to be earned towards the village. At the beginning of the row of cottages that outlined the long, straggling street they drifted into (lie garden surrounding a small house. "Wouldn't Miss (irnyham stare if she eould see us floating about ill her parden," giggled Moira, refening to the owner, who was away. "Oil. look!" She pointed to one of the upper windows. There, in an attitude of pathetic misery. a black cat huddled on the sill. "Poor little bejtfgar!" cried Duncan, "it must have been there ever since the water came up."' He paddled the tub up to the side of the house. A wall pear tree grew up it, and, having assured himself that its branches stretched out toward* the window, Duncan began to climb slowly up the wall. Moira watched breathlessly. Up, up, nearer and nearer to the window. At last he reached the sill and stretched out a hand to grasp the stranded eat. But the little frightened thing struggled as he tried to put it inside his coat. Moira clapped her fingers over her mouth to keep l>ack a shriek as she saw Duncan's grip falter.

Then she stretched out her bands with the desperate idea of helping him as he fell. But with a fierce effort he saved himself, so that a U>\v moments after Moira. was taking the cat from her brother while lie lowered himself back into the tub. On the way borne they met their father. "You've saved me a job," he said. "Miss (irayhani'a maid has had an accident. 1 heard that the poor girl was terribly worried about the cat. You'd better hurry up and take the little thing along, to ease her mind. You can he s llle ,fll |, u wt >n looked after now. 11l talk to you two later," he added. with a glance that was meant to he severe. But with theur rescued cargo held safely in Moira's arms, the pair went jubilantly on their wav, knowing full well that the lecture in store for them would not be a very severe one.