hats,
boys, or you'll never see them again. And sit down on the traps!"

And in a moment more the fury of the wind storm was upon them.

CHAPTER XV.

THE RESULT OF A HURRICANE.

Both Joe and Darry had witnessed many a blow, but nothing to compare to
that which now swept through the valley and up the mountain side. The
velocity of the wind was simply terrific, and it was well that old
Benson had cautioned them to hold on to their hats and sit on their
traps, otherwise all would have been blown away to parts unknown.

"Say, but this is fierce!" gasped Darry, after several minutes had
passed.

"It's a regular hurricane," said Captain Moore. "I've been out in them
before. Fortunately they do not last over a quarter or half an hour.
Down on the prairies of Kansas they would call it a cyclone. Here,
however, it can't get the sweep that it can on the level."

"Hark! what is that?" put in Joe, as a tremendous crashing reached their
ears.

"That's a tree in the forest going down," answered old Benson.

"There goes another," said Darry, as more crashing was heard. "I am
glad we didn't go into the timber. It's more dangerous than lightning."

"So it is!" shouted Benson. It was with difficulty that he made himself
heard. "Here comes the worse of it!" he added.

A strange humming now filled the air, followed by twigs and flying
branches. Overhead it was unusually dark, and they could scarcely see
one another. Joe and Darry kept close together and clasped hands.
Captain Moore was on one side of them and old Benson on the other.

As the wind struck the cliff it sent a shower of loose stones in all
directions. Then it tore through the undergrowth where the horses were
tethered. Next it seemed to hit the trees fronting the cliff. One tall
monarch of the forest was twisted completely from its roots and began to
topple.

"See, the tree is coming on top of us!" shrieked Joe.

His words were drowned out in the fury of the wind and the crashing of
the tree. The next moment the monarch of the forest came down on the
cliff with a bang, cracking the stone in several places. The bottom
limbs caught those under the cliff and pinned them fast.

To both boys it seemed as if the end of the world had come. They rolled
over, one on top of the other, and for several seconds lay dazed. Then
they tried to get up, but found themselves unable to do so.

"Get off of my chest!" gasped Joe, who was underneath.

"I can't--I'm pinne