e V-shaped trench behind the tent to carry it off. Consequently,
some of the water rushed directly across the flooring of the shelter,
wetting the brushwood cut for sleeping purposes. To keep their
shoes and socks dry, the young hunters went barefooted. Once the
wind cut loose a corner of the tent, and, despite the rain, Shep
and Snap had to go out and cut longer pegs with which to fasten
the ropes. They had on rubber coats, but still got a good deal of
water in their faces and down their necks.

It was impossible to light a camp fire, and so they had to eat a
cold supper of such things as chanced to be handy. They could
not lie down, and had to sit on little stacks of the damp brushwood,
with their bare feet in the water and mud.

"Say, this is dead loads of fun!" was Whopper's sarcastic comment.
"Just as funny as doing an example in algebra or writing a composition
on the decay of the Roman Empire!"

"Are you dying to-----" began Giant, when a vigorous pinch on the arm
from Whopper stopped him. "Wow! Let up!"

"Then you let up."

"I will."

By midnight the worst of the storm was over, but it still rained
steadily, and this kept up until almost daybreak. But then the wind
shifted and the clouds scattered rapidly. Utterly worn out, the boys
leaned against the tent poles and caught such "cat naps" as they could.

When the young hunters finally emerged from the tent a surprise
awaited them. Tommy was ahead of them, and the circus boy had cut
such dry wood as he could find and started a big blaze. More than
this, he had put on a kettle of water to boil.

"Good for you, Tommy!" cried the doctor's son. "We'll soon have a
hot cup of coffee to cheer us, and we can dry out the tent and our
clothing while we get breakfast."

"That's about the worst night I can remember," said Whopper. "My!
how it did pour at first! I thought sure we'd be washed down into
some hillside torrent and into the lake."

They placed all the damp things close to the fire to dry, and put
on their socks and shoes. Then Giant and Whopper, assisted by
Tommy, prepared a rather elaborate breakfast of fish and venison
steaks.

"We deserve a square meal," said Giant. "It will put new vigor into
us." And his words proved true. By the time they had finished the
repast they were ready to joke over the discomforts through which
they had passed.

"But one storm is enough," said Snap. "I trust it stays clear
after this."

The wood