gled.

"What does Okematan think?" asked the host.

Thus appealed to, the chief gave it as his opinion that something was
going to happen, for the sky in the nor'-west looked uncommonly black.
Having given utterance to this cautious remark he relapsed into silence.

As if to justify his opinion, a tremendous clap of thunder seemed to
rend the heavens at that moment, and, a few minutes later, a heavy
shower of rain fell.

"Well that we got inside before that came on," said Archie. "I hope it
won't come on to blow, else we shall be storm-stayed here."

The weather seemed to be in a lively mood that night, for as the thunder
had promptly answered to Okematan's observation, so now the wind replied
to Archie's remark, by rushing up the natural avenue which extended from
the hut to the lake and almost bursting in the door.

"See to the ropes, boys," said old Dobelle, glancing uneasily at the
roof.

The young men arose, went out, regardless of weather, and secured with
additional care a couple of stout ropes with which the tendency of the
roof to fly away was restrained.

"Did it ever come off?" asked Archie with some curiosity, as the young
men returned and resumed their pipes.

"Yes--twice, and both times it was night," answered Madame Dobelle, "and
we were flooded out and had to camp under the trees."

"Which was not comfortable," added the old man. Another clap of thunder
seemed to corroborate what he said, and a blast of wind followed, which
caused the whole fabric of the hut to shudder. Jenkins looked
inquiringly at the roof.

"No fear of it," said old Dobelle; "the ropes are strong."

Thus assured, the visitors continued their meal with equanimity,
regardless of the storm that soon began to rage with great fury,
insomuch that the door required a prop to keep it up and rain began to
trickle in through crevices in the roof and drop here and there upon the
party. When one such drop chanced to fall on old Dobelle's nose, his
younger son arose, and, fastening a piece of birch-bark to the rafters,
caught the drop and trained it with its followers to flow towards an
unoccupied place in one corner, which, being accidentally lower than the
rest of the floor, formed a convenient receptacle for superfluous water.

At the same time Madame Dobelle made a shakedown of pine-branches in
another corner for her visitors, for it was obvious that they would have
to spend the night there, even although their own tent was