keeping
still some days yet. But he's such an active man it's hard to tie him
down."

"He told me," Phil informed them, "he had that boat carried away up here
on the back of a guide; and that another man brought his grub, blankets
and outfit. You know we went and got all the duffle from the place he'd
hidden it when he left here, a regular cave in the rocks; and everything
looks like the party who bought the same had money to burn."

"Yes, he admitted that much to me," said Phil. "He also said those marks
were on the table when they came. One of the guides told him a story
about some men who were up two years ago, and arrested by government
agents. He thinks they may have been bogus money-makers. When I showed
him the fifty-cent piece X-Ray found he tried it every which way, and
said it was probably counterfeit, though as clever an imitation as he
had ever seen. But there's another grumble of thunder, boys, so let's
get to work."

With the four of them hustling, things were speedily arranged. After the
lame man and Mazie had been assisted under cover, the boys started to
lay in plenty of fire-wood to last them a couple of days. There could be
no telling how long the storm might linger--perhaps there would be only
an hour of furious bombardment; and then again it was likely to rain
heavily for days. Adirondack storms have a pretty bad name, as all will
agree who have ever experienced their vigor and fury.

X-Ray even climbed up on the roof, and proceeded to patch one corner
that he imagined needed repairs.

"I'm not like the backwoodsman who never seemed to get his leaky roof
mended," X-Ray announced, from his elevated position; "and when they
came to ask him the reason he says, says he: 'When it rains I carnt mend
it; and when the weather's dry, what's the use?' The time to do it is
when you hear the thunder warning you there's something great coming."

"It's getting closer all the while," commented Phil, as a louder burst
came to their ears.

"And listen, what's that other sound we hear?" asked X-Ray Tyson, about
ready to descend from his perch.

"Why, that's wind!" announced Ethan.

"Whew! it must be a hurricane then, for I thought that was a freight
train. I'm glad we haven't any big tree hanging over us that'd be in
danger of falling. And I'm also pleased to know our Lodge is so well
protected by evergreens and birches. They'll serve as a wind-break."

"There's the rain; and as the wind is pretty fierce