In great haste they selected some saplings and cut them down for tent poles and pegs.  Then they got out the canvas and put it up, driving in the pegs that held it as deeply as possible.  The tent was erected on some sloping ground, and behind it they cut a V in the soil, so that the water might run off on either side instead of across the flooring of the shelter.  Then they cut some brushwood for couches and hauled it inside.

“Here comes the storm!” cried Snap presently, and scarcely had he spoken when there came a rush of wind, followed by some big drops of rain.  Then came more wind, swaying the tent violently and causing the sides to bulge out like a balloon.  A torrent of water followed, and all of the boys were glad enough to crawl under the tent and tie the opening in front tight shut behind them.

CHAPTER XV

IN THE MOUNTAINS AT LAST

The boys and even the dog put in a thoroughly uncomfortable night.  It thundered and lightened for two hours, and for the larger portion of the time the downpour was so heavy that it was impossible for the V-shaped trench behind the tent to carry it off.  Consequently, some of the water rushed directly across the flooring of the shelter, wetting the brushwood cut for sleeping purposes.  To keep their shoes and socks dry, the young hunters went barefooted.  Once the wind cut loose a corner of the tent, and, despite the rain, Shep and Snap had to go out and cut longer pegs with which to fasten the ropes.  They had on rubber coats, but still got a good deal of water in their faces and down their necks.

It was impossible to light a camp fire, and so they had to eat a cold supper of such things as chanced to be handy.  They could not lie down, and had to sit on little stacks of the damp brushwood, with their bare feet in the water and mud.

“Say, this is dead loads of fun!” was Whopper’s sarcastic comment.  “Just as funny as doing an example in algebra or writing a composition on the decay of the Roman Empire!”

“Are you dying to-----” began Giant, when a vigorous pinch on the arm
from Whopper stopped him.   “Wow!   Let up!”

“Then you let up.”

“I will.”

By midnight the worst of the storm was over, but it still rained steadily, and this kept up until almost daybreak.  But then the wind shifted and the clouds scattered rapidly.  Utterly worn out, the boys leaned against the tent poles and caught such “cat naps” as they could.

When the young hunters finally emerged from the tent a surprise awaited them.  Tommy was ahead of them, and the circus boy had cut such dry wood as he could find and started a big blaze.  More than this, he had put on a kettle of water to boil.

“Good for you, Tommy!” cried the doctor’s son.  “We’ll soon have a hot cup of coffee to cheer us, and we can dry out the tent and our clothing while we get breakfast.”