id, and then again he shows
more nerve than the whole bunch put together. I thought I knew him to a
dot, but I confess I'm puzzled," grunted Jerry.

"The rain has stopped, fellows," announced Frank a little later.

"But just look at the river! Must have been a cloudburst, as they call
it out in the Rockies, Mr. Mabie says. It's just rising right before our
eyes!"

"Then they'll have to change the camp, because by this time the water
must be up to where the tents were pitched. Why, see there, Frank! Isn't
that water over yonder, too, on the right of us?" asked Bluff, pointing
through the woods.

"As sure as you live, and rushing madly on, too. We are between two
rivers, it seems, with the water rising like a tidal wave. Perhaps we
may have to take to a tree yet, fellows," announced Frank after a long
look.

"H'm! These trees are sure handy to have around! We shin up one to avoid
all sorts of dangers, it seems to me. And by the looks of that wall of
water coming down on us just now, the sooner we climb, the better for
us!" cried Jerry, suiting his actions to his words, and seizing the
lower limb of a friendly oak, into which he clambered hastily, followed
by his three chums, just as a five-foot wave swept under them, for all
the world resembling a "curler" rolling in from the ocean and up the
beach.

CHAPTER XXIII

THE STAMPEDE

"What d'ye call this, anyway?" exclaimed Bluff, panting with his
exertions.

"I'd say it was crowding the mourners, for these things to chase each
other so fast, and the elements to make playthings out of four confiding
chums," said Frank.

"Tell me about that, will you! First a scorching, then put to soak,
after which comes another hot experience, and now treed by a flood! Upon
my word, things are happening a little too rapid even for me," put in
Jerry.

"There!" remarked Will, with a satisfied chuckle. "I think you three
fellows will make a splendid showing, perched along that limb like a lot
of crows, and the water rolling along below."

"Talk to me about the industrious photographer! If that chap hasn't
taken our pictures in this ridiculous attitude! Why, they'll believe
we've gone back to the old days, when our ancestors used to live in
trees."

"Speak for yourself, Jerry. I refuse to admit that I am descended from a
monkey," declared Bluff indignantly.

"How long do you suppose we may have to hang out here?" asked Will.

"Oh, a day or so, I suppose," replied Jer