the boys landed, and seeing that the steepness of the bank would
make it a difficult task to carry the canoes up--if indeed there was
room to spare above--they tied them in a bunch to the roots of the
tree. Then stripping off their shoes and stockings, they waded about in
the shallow water unloading what articles they wanted, and carrying them
up on the bank.

The tent was staked in the center of the island, and the boys did not
discover, until too late, that the entrance faced up stream.

"Let it go," said Ned. "It's a little unhandy for the canoes, that's
all. We must be careful not to trip over the ropes, though."

There was another reason why the tent should have faced the opposite
way. It was exposed, in its present position, to any storm that might
come up from the west.

But this did not occur to the boys, and very naturally, since the sky
was cloudless and the air but moderately warm. It had not been such a
day as usually brews July thunderstorms.

After considerable searching, two stones suitable for the fireplace were
found in the eddy. There was an utter lack of fuel on the island, so Ned
and Randy paddled to shore and loaded their canoes with driftwood.

Two weeks of camp life had now familiarized each lad with the duties
that were assigned to him, and by working in unison supper was soon
prepared.

The boys lingered over the meal a good while, and it was quite dark when
the dishes were washed and put away.

At nine o'clock all were sleeping soundly behind the tightly drawn tent
flaps, and the fire was mingling its red flashes with the moonlight glow
on the rippling surface of the creek.

Ten o'clock came--eleven--twelve. Not a breath of air was stirring; a
dead, oppressive calm, like the sultriness of noonday, had settled down
on land and water. Half an hour later the west was inky black with
massed storm clouds and fleecy forerunners of the coming tempest were
straying one after another across the moon.

All unconscious of impending danger the boys slept peacefully, nor did
they awake until the storm was upon them in all its fury. Dazed and
terrified they crouched close together, watching the jagged purple
flashes that turned night into noonday, listening to the furious patter
of the rain and the crashing of thunder, and shivering where the oozing
drops fell in their faces from the saturated canvas.

Streams of water were trickling across the ground, and the tent was
tugging, like a thing of l