als, and he looked at them a little before
shooting. The bull was magnificent, and he, if any, seemed a fit
subject for the bullet, but Dick chose the cow, knowing that she
would be the tenderer. Only a single shot was needed, and then
he had a great task to carry the hide and the body in sections to
the cabin. They ate elk steaks and then hung the rest in the
trees for drying and jerking. Dick, according to his previous
plan, used the skin to cover the newly mended places in the roof,
fastening it down tightly with small wooden pegs. His forethought
was vindicated two days later when a great storm came. Both he
and Albert had noticed throughout the afternoon an unusual warmth
in the air. It affected Albert particularly, as it made his
respiration difficult. Over the mountains in the west they saw
small dark clouds which soon began to grow and unite. Dick
thought he knew what it portended, and he and his brother quickly
taking down the tent, carried it and all its equipment inside the
cabin. Then making fast the door and leaving the window open,
they waited.

The heat endured, but all the clouds became one that overspread
the entire heavens. Despite the lateness of the season, the
thunder, inexpressibly solemn and majestic, rumbled among the
gorges, and there was a quiver of lightening. It was as dark as
twilight.

The rain came, roaring down the clefts and driving against the
cabin with such force that they were compelled to close the
window. How thankful Dick was now for Albert's sake that they
had such a secure shelter! Nor did he despise it for his own.

The rain, driven by a west wind, poured heavily, and the air
rapidly grew colder. Albert piled dry firewood on the hearth and
lighted it. The flames leaped up, and warmth, dryness, and cheer
filled all the little cabin. Dick had been anxiously regarding
the roof, but the new boards and the elk skin were water-tight.
Not a drop came through. Higher leaped the flames and the rosy
shadows fell upon the floor.

"It's well we took the tent down and came in here," said Albert.
"Listen to that!"

The steady, driving sweep changed to a rattle and a crackle. The
rain had turned to hail, and it was like the patter of rifle fire
on the stout little cabin.

"It may rain or hail or snow, or do whatever it pleases, but it
can't get at us," said Albert exultingly.

"No, it can't," said Dick. "I wonder, Al, what Bright Sun is
doing now?"

"A peculi