Angelique looked out, but Rice sat still beside his sister.
"Are you all quite safe?" shouted the priest.
"Quite, father. The slaves were brought in, and we are all in the
attic."
"Keep up your courage and your prayers. As soon as this strong wind dies
away they will put out from shore for you."
"Colonel Menard has already been here and taken part of the family."
"Has he?"
"Yes, father; though tante-gra'mere is afraid to venture yet, so we
remain with her."
They could see the priest, indistinctly, sitting in a small skiff, which
he tried to keep off the roof with a rough paddle.
"Where did you find a boat, father?"
"I think it is one the negroes had on the marsh by the levee. It lodged
in my gallery, and by the help of the saints I am trying to voyage from
house to house, as far as I can, and carry a little encouragement. I
have the parish records here with me; and if this vessel capsizes, their
loss would be worse for this parish than the loss of me."
"But, father, you are not trying to reach the land in that frail canoe?"
"Not yet, my daughter; not until some of the people are taken out.
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