ual that night, for Mr. Gordon
thought it well to get what sleep they could. He went the rounds last of
all, to make sure the provisions could not be wholly ruined by water, no
matter what befell.

By nine o'clock the camp was wrapped in silence, even the fire dying
out. The moan of the wind through the pines further up the mountain
helped to sing most of the scouts to sleep. Two hours later the guard
was changed; and again silence fell upon the scene.

It must have been midnight and past when Paul was awakened by what he
thought was the rush and roar of a railroad train. Alarmed he sat up to
listen.

CHAPTER XXVIII

THE GREAT STORM

"Oh! Listen to that, will you!" came a loud voice from a nearby tent, as
one of the other sleepers, aroused by the racket, started up in wild
alarm.

Shrill cries arose in every quarter. Not a single scout now but who was
wide-awake, and endeavoring to pull on his clothes in haste. That former
experience had at least taught them a lesson; and much confusion was
avoided at the start.

Already were the tents wabbling furiously. Some of the more timid boys
kept calling the name of Mr. Gordon, just as if the scoutmaster, however
willing, could be of any avail against the aroused forces of Nature.

"Wow! look at that, will you!" shouted Nuthin, as the tent under which
he and his three companions cowered, threatened to sail away before the
increasing gale.

The storm was no ordinary one. Paul knew something of the signs, and
even his stout heart quailed a bit as he heard the terrible sound of
trees crashing to the earth somewhere near by. Perhaps this was to be a
duplicate of the hurricane that had toppled over so many of the big
forest monarchs years before!

Already were the boys outside, hanging on to the tents for dear life,
regardless of the fact that they were being slowly but surely drenched.

"We can't seem to beat it out!" gasped William, almost out of breath
with his tremendous exertions.

"She's going to carry off, fellows!" shrieked another scout.

"Don't anybody let go yet!" commanded Paul; equal to the occasion.

He darted into the wildly agitated tent, and with all his strength tore
the central pole from its hold. The tent instantly collapsed, amid the
howls of the upset boys, who really thought it was tearing away from
their grasp.

"Now pile some rocks on top!" ordered Paul, as he crept out from under.

They seemed to grasp his idea, and immediately s