Jane McCarthy reported that there was no rope there. Harriet decided to
go on without it, believing that she knew a way to check the flood.
Calling Jane to assist her, the two girls carried the dining table out
to the upper deck. This they left there for the moment.

"Now hand out the cots," directed Harriet.

As this was being done, Harriet worked standing in water most of the
time. She placed the cots on edge across the doorway until three of them
had been set in place. Directing Jane to try to hold them in place,
Harriet grasped the table. This she braced against the cots. The table
held them in place.

"Hurrah! We've done it. See if you can find some blankets in there. One
will do."

After some searching about Jane announced that she had found a heavy
blanket. Acting under Harriet's directions Jane carried the blanket to
the upper deck and lowered it over the barricade of cots, weighting it
with heavy stones from the beach so that the end would remain on the
upper deck.

Harriet was unable to get either to the upper deck or into the boat,
without danger of pulling down her barricade, so she promptly jumped
into the lake and waded ashore. She fell down several times before
reaching dry land, knocked over by waves that overtook her and laid her
low. She sat down on the beach gasping.

"Come over here and rest a moment, Harriet," urged the guardian.