f its dangers, consequently a wetting
is of but little consequence."

To have seen the mountain at this moment one would hardly have thought
that the party could have suffered from thirst. Every crevice of the
rocks was now a stream, and by reaching out in a dozen different
directions a quantity of the precious liquid could be obtained.

The only thing to cause alarm was the fact that this storm was but the
beginning of the summer season, during which rain might be expected each
day, and thus the danger of fever while crossing the low lands would be
greatly increased.

"The sentinels will certainly keep under cover during such weather as
this," Cummings said in a tone of satisfaction, "and we may be able to
get over the range without a hand to hand fight, as I had anticipated."

Under such climatic conditions the meat would not keep sweet many hours,
and Poyor set the entire stock before his companions, saying as he did
so:

"What cannot be eaten must be thrown away, therefore he is fortunate who
can now swallow enough to prevent the pangs of hunger from being felt
during the next forty-eight hours."

"But we certainly won't be forced to stay here that length of time,"
Neal replied. "It can't rain all the day and night."

"It is safe to count on a long storm," Cummings added. "This is the
beginning of the bad season, and there will be a certain amount of water
fall each day."

"Did you take the fact into consideration when you made ready to visit
the Silver City?" Neal asked.

"Of course, and if there had been nothing to prevent the carrying out of
my plans we would have been clear of the swamp by this time, or so near
the edge that but a few hours traveling must have taken us through."

It was worse than useless to talk of what might have been, and the
little party settled down to make themselves as comfortable as possible
under the circumstances.

Overhead the rock sheltered them from the rain; but now that every
crevice had been turned into a stream it was difficult to protect one's
self from the innumerable tiny crevices through which the water was
pouring, and each member of the party lay down in turn only to find
himself literally flooded out before it was possible to gain any rest.

The night had come, and the air, so warm a few hours previous, was
uncomfortably cold.

Jake proposed that a fire be built, providing he could find a sufficient
quantity of dry wood; but both Cummings and Poyor decided