It soaked their blankets and passed through. It soaked their garments
and passed through. It reached their skins, which it could not so
easily pass through, but was stopped and warmed before being absorbed.
A few uneasy turns and movements, with an occasional growl, was the
result--nothing more. But when the density of the rain increased, and
the crevices in the soil turned into active water-courses, and their
hollow became a pool, Victor became, as we have said, half-awake.
Presently he awoke completely, sat up, and scratched his head. It was
the power of a soft and gentle but persistent influence triumphantly
asserted.

"W'ass-'e-marrer?" asked Ian, without moving.

"Why," (yawning), "Lake Winnipeg is a trifle to this," said Victor.

"O-gor-o-sleep," returned Ian.

"Niagara have com to de plains!" exclaimed Rollin, rising to a sitting
posture in desperation. "It have been rush 'longside of me spine for
two hours by de cloke. Oui."

This aroused Ian, who also sat up disconsolate and yawned.

"It's uncomfortable," he remarked.

No one replied to so ridiculously obvious a truth, but each man slowly
rose and stumbled towards higher ground. To add to their discomfort the
night was intensely dark; even if wide awake they could not have seen a
yard in front of them.

"Have you found a tree?" asked Victor.

"Oui--yes--to be sure," said Rollin angrily. "Anyhow von branch of a
tree have found _me_, an' a'most split my head."

"Where is it?--speak, Ian; I can see nothing. Is it--ah! I've found it
too."

"Vid yoos head?" inquired Rollin, chuckling.

Victor condescended not to reply, but lay down under the partial shelter
of the tree, rolled himself up in his wet blanket, and went to sleep.
His companions followed suit. Yes, reader, we can vouch for the truth
of this, having more than once slept damp and soundly in a wet blanket.
But they did not like it, and their spirits were down about zero when
they mounted at grey dawn and resumed the chase in a dull, dreadful
drizzle.

After a time the aspect of the scenery changed. The rolling plain
became more irregular and broken than heretofore, and was more studded
with patches of woodland, which here and there almost assumed the
dignity of forests.

One evening the clouds broke; glimpses of the heavenly blue appeared to
gladden our travellers, and ere long the sun beamed forth in all its
wonted splendour. Riding out into a wide stretch of open country, t