hts at camp, then turn east. You ought to be able to do
it in an hour. Tell everybody to get busy and throw everything in the
water that'll help plug up the passage. Chuck in the logs from the
woodshed."

"How about the remains of Pee-wee's signal tower?"

"Good, chuck that in. Throw in everything that can be spared. Most of it
will drift over here and get caught in the rush. If the wind dies it
will all come over. Hurry up! I'll stay here and try to get in place
anything more that comes in in the meantime. There are a lot of broken
limbs and things around here. Hurry up now, _beat it!_ And don't stop
till you get there.... Don't let anybody try to start over in a boat,"
he called after them.

Scarcely had they set off when he turned to Hervey Willetts, placing
both his hands on the boy's shoulders. The rain was streaming down from
Hervey's streaked hair. The funny little rimless hat cut full of holes
which he wore on the side of his head and which was the pride of his
life had collapsed by reason of being utterly soaked, for he had very
early discarded the oilskin "roof" in preference for this old love. One
of his stockings was falling down and he hoisted this up as Tom spoke to
him.

"Hervey, I'm glad you're going alone, because you won't have to do any
stunts for anybody's benefit. You're going to keep your mind on just one
thing. Understand?"

"I can think of nine things at once," said Hervey, blithely, "and sing
_Over There_ and eat a banana at the same time. How's that?"

"That's fine. Now listen--just two seconds. You're to hit right straight
up through this country--north. You notice I gave the compass to Roy?
That's because I know you can't get rattled when you're alone and when
you put your mind on a thing. You're to go straight north till you
reach the road. I'll have to keep the lantern here, but you won't need
it. You've got about a quarter of a mile of rough country and then easy
going. Straight north beyond the road is Crows Nest Mountain. Turn
around, that's right. Shut your eyes. One--two--three--four--five. Now
open them suddenly. You see that black bulk. That's Crows Nest. Now you
know how to see a dark thing in the dark...."

"Do you know how to tell time with a clothespin?"

"Never mind that. About every ten minutes stop and shut your eyes and
old Crows Nest will guide you. Don't get rattled. When you get to the
road wait for the bus and _stop it_. If it has passed by now, we can't
help it