When they were crossing Mill River, on the old covered bridge on South street, uncle Edward stopped and told them that this was the only bridge on the river which was saved from the awful catastrophe of the bursting of the reservoir at Williamsburg, ten miles from there.  When they drove off the bridge he told Reuben to notice the river as it flowed so peacefully along, in apparent forgetfulness of its dreadful havoc of ten years ago when about one hundred and fifty lives were lost, and factories, houses, and churches were swept along, as so many leaves, by the rushing torrent.  He told, among other facts, how a cousin of his was seated at the breakfast-table with his whole family—­a wife, two sons, and a daughter—­when they were swept up by the waters, house and all, and all drowned.  And while he was telling these incidents, which were so much to him, he made them more effective by driving up some little distance through the district which had been devastated.  Thus Reuben learned of a peculiar tragedy, in a manner which no reading in itself could so well have taught him.

They spent a day or two more in looking around the different public institutions, the Clarke Institute for the Deaf, on Round Hill, giving them the most interest.  But in spite of these attractions, Mrs. Tracy’s keen mother-eye noticed that Reuben was getting a little impatient to climb a mountain, that mountain “with the tunnel” as he expressed it.  So she decided to go there the first pleasant day; and as it was now the time of full moon she proposed to remain upon the mountain all night, much to Reuben’s delight.

The next day proved to be pleasant, so they in company with Uncle Edward and his wife started for Mount Holyoke, a distance of three miles.  A short drive brought them to the Hokanum ferry where they were to cross the Connecticut.  As they drove upon what seemed to Reuben a wharf, he, accustomed only to the Boston ferry-boats, remarked that the boat was not in yet.  And it was not until a moment later when he found himself moving away from the land that he discovered that he was on the boat itself!  The way in which they were being borne across the river by man’s use of the pulley and wire was a great novelty to the boy and could only suggest to his mother the most primitive days.

It took them five minutes to cross—­about eighty-five rods—­after which a short drive through a pretty country took them to the foot of the mountain.  Then following a good carriage-road they were soon at the half-way house where Reuben at last found the “tunnel” which had given him so much wonder.

After examining the stationary engine at the foot of the inclined plane, in this wooden enclosure which Reuben had called the tunnel, they seated themselves in the car and in two and a quarter minutes were landed at the top, 600 feet higher.

Mrs. Tracy on going up felt a little fear which was overcome when her brother informed her that Mr. French was always at the top with his watchful eye.