to
come back this way."

"Yes, and we may need the horses to ride away on," put in Fred.
"Supposing those men on the ranch come after us? We can't get away
very well on foot, and, if we could, we wouldn't want to leave the
horses behind." And so it was decided to go slowly and take the steeds
along.

It was growing dark, and they were afraid they were in for another
storm. So far, there had been no breeze, but now the wind began to
rush through the trees with a mournful sound.

"If it does come, it will surely be a soaker," announced Tom when he
got to an opening where he could survey the sky. "Perhaps it will
pay us to stay in the shelter of the forest."

"Yes, and have the lightning bring a tree down on us," added Fred.
"None of that for me."

They were still among the rocks when it began to rain. At first, the
drops did not reach them, but, as the storm increased, the water
began to fall in all directions from the branches.

"We must find some shelter, unless we want to be soaked," said Fred.
"Hullo, just the thing! Couldn't be any better if we had it made to
order."

He pointed to a spot where the rocks arose to a height of twenty or
more feet. Low down was an opening leading to a hollow that was very
like a cave.

"That will do first-rate," returned Tom. "It is large enough for the
whole crowd."

"Too bad the horses can't get in, too," said Fred. "But maybe a
wetting won't hurt them in this warm weather."

The steeds were tied close by, and then the boys ran for the shelter
under the rocks, followed by Wags. They had just reached it when the
storm broke in all its violence, and the rain came down in torrents.

CHAPTER XXII

IN A SNAKES' DEN

"Just in time, and no mistake," remarked Songbird as he surveyed the
scene outside. "No use of talking, when it rains down here, it rains!"

"Well, a rainstorm isn't a picnic party," returned Tom. "I wouldn't
care so much if I wasn't so anxious to hear from Sam and Dick."

"Dot is vot ve all vonts," broke in Hans.

They crouched in the back of the shelter, so that the rain might not
drive down upon them. It was a steady downpour for half an hour, when
it began to slacken up, and the sun looked as if it might break
through the clouds once more.

"We won't be detained so long, after all!" cried Fred.

"I am just as well satisfied," began Tom, and then gave a jump. "Boys,
look there! Did you ever see anything like it?"

They looked in the direction p