rom time to time at the storm, which
seemed to pursue them. A wind sprang up, and wild gusts raced past
them, and howled across the moor. Light, swift clouds which seemed to
be flying before the storm hurried across the sky, and the sunshine was
swallowed up and the day darkened.

Dick looked back and whistled.

'Here comes the rain, Chippy,' he said. 'We'd better put our jackets
on.' They did so, but the Raven shrugged his shoulders as if he was of
the opinion that jackets would be but slight protection against the
downpour now rushing upon them.

The thunder-shower was perhaps a couple of miles away, and marching
across the country in a line as straight as if drawn with a ruler. A
clump of pines stood out darkly against the white veil of the streaming
rain. As the scouts looked, the pines were swallowed up, and the wall
of water stalked swiftly on towards them.

They looked round, but there was not the faintest chance of gaining the
least shelter. All round them the earth was covered with low-growing
bushes; there was neither tree nor hedge nor fence to break the force
of the torrential downpour. A mile in front the road topped the ridge
and disappeared.

'There may be shelter beyond the ridge, Chippy,' cried Dick. 'Let's
run for it.'

They ran, but in vain. Long before they gained the ridge the storm was
upon them--first a few heavy drops, then a downpour which made the
earth smoke again. In two minutes the scouts were wet to the skin, and
the storm lasted twenty. Then it raced past them, hissing and roaring,
and left them tramping down the farther side of the ridge, their boots
full of water, and not a dry thread about them save for the blankets
stowed in the waterproof haversacks.

When the rain passed away, the two scouts, who had been tramping
steadily along without growling at the weather, stopped and looked at
each other, leaning on their sticks.

'Well, Chippy,' laughed Dick, 'we look like a pair of drowned rats.'

'That's about it, Dick,' grunted the Raven, and tried to do a step or
two of a dance. This set the water bubbling out over the tops of his
shoes.

'We must dry ourselves somehow or other,' went on Dick. 'You know, B.
P. says it's jolly dangerous to go on in your wet clothes.'

'Sat under a waggon wi' nuthin' on while he dried 'em when he'd been
wet,' quoted Chippy.

'And you remember his dodge for drying his toggery?' said Dick.

'Rather,' returned the Raven; 'fire und