escended upon the tent under
which they were crouching.

Frank heard a snap above the other sounds, and like a flash the entire
tent was blown away, leaving the four campers exposed to the fury of
the storm.

CHAPTER XIV

HOW JERRY WAS TREED

Jerry, that same morning, reached the camp of the old trapper without
any trouble.

He did not find Jesse Wilcox at home; but, knowing something of the
trapper's habits, he made himself comfortable, and waited.

After a time the other showed up. He carried a tidy bunch of fur along
with him, having stopped to remove the pelts on the way.

"Glad to see ye, Jerry. Looky here, one fine fox, and, would ye believe
it, actually a mink, boy! That ere pelt orter bring me a twenty, all
right. That's why I'm so tickled, ye see. This shore must be one o' my
lucky days. Make yerself to hum. Come to take a snack o' dinner along
with me, I reckons, eh?"

"Well, I might wait up and have a bite if you don't keep me too long. You
see I mean to make a roundabout trip into that stretch of woods you told
us about I'd like the worst kind to get a crack at a deer. That would be
worth while, Jesse."

"Then I'll get busy right away. But p'raps ye'd better defer that ere
trip fur a day or so, lad," remarked the trapper, sweeping an eye upward.

"Why?" asked the boy.

"Thar's some sorter storm broodin', er I'm bad deceived. In course at
this season we don't expect much along that line; but I hev seen a
scorcher come along, even in October. Ten year ago it was, and thar was
quite some timber leveled, I'm tellin' ye."

But Jerry was built along a stubborn line: Having once made up his mind
to do a thing it was very hard for him to break away.

"Oh! I don't bother about a little blow. If it comes to the worst I can
find a hollow tree, and keep pretty dry. Now, I want to see just how you
cook that stew, so I can do it sometime."

The dinner was a success, and, of course, Jerry, being hungry, heartily
enjoyed it. When the meal was finished he arose, and picked up his gun.

"Still of a mind to take that long tramp, air ye?" asked the trapper.

"Why, certainly. I haven't even thought of changing my mind,"
returned the boy.

"Well, I s'pose ye must, then. Only keep yer eye peeled for trouble up
yonder. It's sure goin' to storm; for I feels it in my bones. Besides,
thar's a pack o' measly wild dogs loose in that stretch o' timber."

"Wild dogs?" repeated Jerry, opening his eyes wider.