neighbor, and all
that prevented the cove from being an outlet was a little hubble of land
which separated this secluded nook from a narrow valley, or gully,
beyond.

Sometimes, indeed, after a rainy spell the water in the cove overflowed
this little hubble of land enough to trickle through into the gully, and
then you could pick fish up with your hands where they flopped about
marooned in the channel below. Probably this gully was an old dried-up
stream bed.

About a mile from the lake it became wider and was intersected by a
road. Here it was that the bridge spanned the hollow. And here it was,
right in the hollow near the bridge, that Ebon Berry had his rural
garage. Along this road the old bus lumbered daily, bringing new
arrivals to camp and touching at villages beyond.

If, indeed, the swollen lake had washed away the inner shore of the
cove, the sequel would be serious if not tragic at that quiet road
crossing. The question was, had this happened, and if so, had the bus
reached the fatal spot? All that the boys knew was that the bus was long
overdue and that Berry's "did not answer." And that the fury of the
storm was rising with every minute.

Tom Slade spoke calmly as was his wont. No storm could arouse him out of
his stolid, thoughtful habit.

"A couple of scoutmasters have started along the road," he said, "to see
what they can find out. How about you, Hervey? Are you game to skirt the
lake? How about you, Roy? There may be danger over there."

"Believe me, I hope it'll wait till we get there," said Hervey Willetts.

"I'll go!" shouted Pee-wee.

"You'll go--in and get supper," said Tom. "I want just three fellows;
I'm not going to overload a boat in this kind of weather. I'll take Roy
and Hervey and Westy, if you fellows are game to go. You go in and get a
lantern, Pee-wee."

"And don't forget to leave some pie for those two troops that are coming
on the bus," added Roy.

Pee-wee did better than bring a lantern; he brought also three oilskin
jackets and hats which the younger boys donned. He must also have
advertised the adventurous expedition during his errand indoors, for a
couple of dozen envious scouts followed him out and watched the little
party depart.

The four made their way against a blown rain which all but blinded them
and streamed from their hats and rendered their storm jackets quite
useless. Tom wore khaki trousers and a pongee shirt which clung to him
like wet tissue paper. If