He was more afraid of the effects of cold than of being drowned.

He felt that in a flood in October the water was likely to be fairly warm, and he congratulated himself that it was now, instead of in December, that he should have to pass through the ordeal.
Before commencing the struggle, he kneeled for some time in prayer on his bed, and then, with a firm heart, rose to his feet and awaited the rising of the water.

This was rapid indeed.

It was already two feet over his bed, and minute by minute it rose higher.
When it reached his chin, which it did in less than a quarter of an hour from the time when he had first awoke, he swam across to the loophole, which was now but a few inches above the water, and through which a stream of water still poured.

Impossible as it was for any human being to get through the narrow slit, an iron bar had been placed across it.